Ramsey sits in the northwest corner of Bergen County, about 26 miles from Midtown Manhattan, with Mahwah to the north, west and southwest, Allendale to the southeast, and Saddle River and Upper Saddle River to the east. It's a small borough, about 5.6 square miles, with just under 15,000 residents.
The town grew up around the railroad. Its name honors Peter Ramsey, a 19th-century landowner who sold land for the station, and the 1868 station building on Main Street is still in use. Ramsey became a borough in 1908. More than a century later, the train is still part of daily life: two NJ Transit stations serve the town.
If you're thinking about moving here, this guide covers what you'll want to know first: what homes cost, how taxes compare, how people get around, and what a normal week in Ramsey looks like.
How much do homes cost in Ramsey?
Ramsey is mostly a town of homeowners. Census estimates for 2020–2024 show about 79% of occupied homes are owner-occupied, and the median value of an owner-occupied home in that period was $697,300. That's a five-year estimate, though, and prices have kept rising.
The more current number comes from Zillow's Home Value Index: Ramsey's typical home value was about $884,000 in September 2026, up 10.4% from a year earlier and about 37.6% over five years. That puts it in the middle of the Bergen County range: well below Ridgewood (about $1.26 million) or Allendale (about $1.11 million), and above Mahwah (about $714,000).
If you'd rather rent, the Census put the median gross rent at $2,245 a month for 2020–2024. Rentals are a small share of the market, so expect a limited choice.
Property taxes in Ramsey
Taxes are a big part of the cost of living anywhere in Bergen County, and Ramsey is no exception. According to the New Jersey Division of Taxation:
- The average residential tax bill in 2025 was $15,131, a bit above the Bergen County average of $14,200.
- Ramsey's 2025 effective tax rate was 2.068%, close to the middle of the county.
- Ramsey's assessments are close to market value at the town-wide level: its 2026 equalization ratio is 99.8%. That ratio compares the borough's overall assessments with estimated market values; it doesn't establish the value of an individual home.
Always check the actual tax record of the house you're considering. The effective rate is useful for comparing towns, not calculating a particular property's bill. Your bill uses the property's assessment and the general tax rate. See our full guide to Bergen County property taxes by town for comparisons.
The lay of the land: downtown and Route 17
Ramsey has two very different sides, and most people use both.
Downtown is the old center, built around the Main Street station. East and West Main Street have independent shops, cafes, bakeries and restaurants within a few minutes' walk of each other, and the Ramsey Farmers Market sets up at the station every Sunday. If you like being able to walk for a coffee or a loaf of bread, look at homes within reach of Main Street.
Route 17 cuts through town and handles the everyday errands: the larger stores, the Interstate Shopping Center and quick access to the highway. Ramsey also has about 153 acres of preserved Green Acres open space, which helps the residential streets keep a quieter, greener feel.
The best way to choose a street is simply to spend time in town at different hours: a weekday morning at the station, a Saturday on Main Street, an evening drive through the neighborhoods you're considering.
Getting around and commuting
By train. Ramsey has two NJ Transit stations on the Main Line and the Bergen County Line, with service to Hoboken and connections at Secaucus Junction for New York Penn Station.
- Ramsey Main Street is the historic downtown station. NJ Transit lists weekend parking in its lots as free. For weekday commuter permits, use the borough's current rules: permits are for Ramsey residents and cost $50 for the first car and $25 for each additional car, running August to August. The borough's rate supersedes the older $15 figure still shown on NJ Transit's station page.
- Ramsey Route 17 opened in 2004 as a park-and-ride, with about 1,200 spaces. NJ Transit lists parking at $5.99 a day or $79.99 a month, and $4.99 a day on weekends, for residents and non-residents alike. Check the parking operator's current rates before leaving your car.
Both stations are listed as accessible. Neither has a staffed ticket office, so buy tickets from the machine or the NJ Transit app.
By bus. Short Line buses run along Route 17 to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
By car. Route 17 runs through town, and Interstate 287 and U.S. Route 202 are close by in Mahwah. The average Ramsey worker's commute is about 32 minutes each way, according to the Census.
Schools in Ramsey
The Ramsey Public School District runs pre-K through 12th grade in five schools:
- Mary A. Hubbard Elementary and Wesley D. Tisdale Elementary (pre-K to 3rd grade)
- John Y. Dater Elementary (4th and 5th grades)
- Eric S. Smith Middle School (6th to 8th grades)
- Ramsey High School (9th to 12th grades)
Private options in town include the Academy of St. Paul (K–8) and Don Bosco Preparatory High School, an all-boys Catholic school. High schoolers can also apply to the Bergen County Technical Schools. If you have kids, check which elementary school a house is zoned for, and register through the district's website.
Daily life in Ramsey
Sundays. Like the rest of Bergen County, Ramsey follows the county blue law, which restricts Sunday sales of items such as clothing, furniture, home furnishings and appliances. Supermarkets, pharmacies and restaurants can open, and the Sunday farmers market at the train station runs all year.
Food and shopping. Main Street has bakeries, cafes and independent shops, from an Italian pastry shop to a Japanese market. For a walk-through of a typical Sunday downtown, see our guide to a Sunday morning in Ramsey.
Parks and recreation. Finch Park has playgrounds, ball fields and basketball courts. Suraci Pond is another local recreation spot. In summer, the Ramsey Municipal Pool at 75 East Oak St. has slides, diving boards, lap swimming, lessons and a swim team; the 2026 season ended September 7. For bigger hikes, Ramapo Valley County Reservation is a short drive away in Mahwah.
The library. The Ramsey Free Public Library is at 30 Wyckoff Ave., a short walk from the Main Street station.
Borough hall. Borough offices are at 33 N. Central Ave. (201-825-3400), open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The borough's website covers recycling, leaf collection and recreation programs, and you can sign up for notifications.
Is Ramsey a good place to live? The trade-offs
What draws people to Ramsey
- A walkable downtown with a train station in the middle of it
- Two NJ Transit stations, plus a bus to Midtown along Route 17
- Home values in the middle of the Bergen County range, below towns like Ridgewood and Allendale
- Its own K–12 school district
- Parks, ponds, a municipal pool and preserved open space
What to weigh
- Property taxes average about $15,000 a year, slightly above the county average
- Prices have climbed fast, up about 38% in five years
- Rentals are a small part of the housing market
- Sunday shopping is limited by the county blue law
- Weekday parking at the Main Street station is mostly reserved for permit holders
Frequently asked questions
How much does a house cost in Ramsey, NJ?
Zillow put Ramsey's typical home value at about $884,000 in September 2026.
What are property taxes like in Ramsey?
The average residential tax bill was $15,131 in 2025, with an effective tax rate of 2.068%.
How do you get from Ramsey to New York City?
Take NJ Transit from Ramsey Main Street or Ramsey Route 17 to Hoboken, or change at Secaucus Junction for Penn Station. Short Line buses also run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
How many people live in Ramsey?
About 14,900, according to the Census Bureau's 2025 estimate.
What schools serve Ramsey?
The Ramsey Public School District, with three elementary schools, Eric S. Smith Middle School and Ramsey High School.
Information checked October 20, 2026. Prices, taxes, fees and schedules change, so check the official sources before you decide.
Sources and updates
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Ramsey borough
- Zillow housing data, with September 2026 figures analyzed in our county housing report
- NJ Division of Taxation: 2025 Average Residential Statistics
- NJ Division of Taxation: 2025 General and Effective Tax Rates
- NJ Division of Taxation: 2026 Bergen County Equalization Table
- NJ Division of Taxation: rate definitions
- Borough of Ramsey: commuter parking permit rules
- NJ Transit: Ramsey Main Street station
- NJ Transit: Ramsey Route 17 station
- Borough of Ramsey: community and recreation
- Ramsey Historical Association: the train station
- Ramsey school district
- Ramsey Municipal Pool
- Ramsey Farmers Market
- Ramsey Free Public Library
- Borough Hall: address, phone and hours
More about Ramsey and Bergen County
Explore our Ramsey stories, plan a Sunday morning downtown, compare Bergen County home values, or browse more real estate guides.
