Still deciding between Ridgewood, Glen Rock, or Ho-Ho-Kus? You’re not alone. Each town offers a slightly different mix of schools, downtown energy, commute options, and home styles. In this guide, you’ll see clear, side-by-side context so you can match a town to your lifestyle, budget, and daily routine. Let’s dive in.
Quick picks: best-fit snapshots
- Choose Ridgewood if you want the largest, most walkable downtown with year-round activity, a comprehensive PK–12 district, and you’re comfortable with top-tier local prices and taxes. Explore the Village of Ridgewood’s official pages for a feel of events and amenities.
- Choose Glen Rock if you prefer a smaller borough feel with a compact downtown and two NJ Transit stations for schedule flexibility. See an overview of Glen Rock’s layout and stations.
- Choose Ho-Ho-Kus if you prioritize a quieter village center and comparatively larger lots, with PK–8 locally and a regional high school arrangement. Read a concise community profile of Ho-Ho-Kus for local flavor and structure.
Schools: structure and what to know
School systems differ in size and setup. Focus on how your child will move through each system from elementary to high school, and review district reports for programs, growth, graduation, and AP participation. You can view detailed data in the New Jersey Department of Education’s school performance reports by district.
Ridgewood (PK–12, single high school)
Ridgewood Public Schools serves roughly PK–12 across a larger district scale. Ridgewood High School is the single comprehensive public high school. The NJDOE 2023–24 district report includes enrollment, student growth, graduation, and participation metrics that help you compare offerings over time. Review the Ridgewood NJDOE 2023–24 report to see current district-level accountability details.
Glen Rock (K–12, single high school)
Glen Rock Public Schools runs K–12 with Glen Rock High School serving as the community’s single high school. Families value the smaller borough scale and the single-campus middle/high connection. For current academic measures, consult the NJDOE’s 2023–24 school performance reports for district and building details.
Ho-Ho-Kus (PK–8 locally; regional high school for 9–12)
Ho-Ho-Kus Public School serves PK–8 in-town. Public high school students attend Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale via a sending/receiving relationship. This two-part structure is important as you compare K–8 programs with the regional 9–12 experience. Use the NJDOE’s 2023–24 reports for Ho-Ho-Kus (K–8) and Northern Highlands (9–12) to review accountability metrics.
Tip: Instead of chasing a single “ranking,” look at specifics that matter to you, such as course access, arts and athletics, co-curriculars, and how far your home will be from the assigned schools.
Downtown character and walkability
Ridgewood
Ridgewood’s central business district around East Ridgewood Avenue, Broad Street, Van Neste Square, and Station Plaza is the largest and most walkable of the three. It offers many independent boutiques and restaurants, seasonal programming, and a commuter-facing retail core. Check the Village of Ridgewood’s official pages for event listings and downtown updates.
Glen Rock
Glen Rock’s commercial life is compact, centered on Rock Road and near its two train stations a few blocks apart. You’ll find local restaurants, small shops, and a neighborhood feel within a smaller footprint than Ridgewood’s. A quick primer on geography and transit can be found in this Glen Rock overview.
Ho-Ho-Kus
Ho-Ho-Kus offers a quiet, village-scale downtown along Franklin Turnpike and Sheridan Street, with specialty shops, restaurants, and historic character. Community programming creates a close-knit feel within a tighter commercial strip. For a sense of the vibe, browse this Ho-Ho-Kus community snapshot.
Commute: train, bus, and highways
All three towns sit on NJ Transit’s Main Line/Bergen County Line corridor. Trains serve Hoboken directly and New York Penn Station via transfer at Secaucus. Typical door-to-door rail times into Midtown vary by departure and transfer, often in the 45–70 minute range depending on schedule and routing. Always verify current timetables before you plan.
- Ridgewood Station is a larger stop with municipal parking and frequent peak-direction service. See the Ridgewood Station page for service and parking details.
- Glen Rock is unusual in having two stations, which can broaden your schedule options. Review Glen Rock–Boro Hall Station for the Bergen County Line; the Glen Rock–Main Line stop sits a few blocks away on the Main Line.
- Ho-Ho-Kus Station serves the borough on the same rail corridor. Parking is more limited than Ridgewood, so check the Ho-Ho-Kus Station page for current parking and ticketing notes.
Bus riders can access Port Authority routes along the corridor. NJ Transit route 164 runs through the Ridgewood/Glen Rock area; see current stops and times on the NJT 164 MyBus page. Drivers have quick access to Route 17 and the Garden State Parkway, which makes regional trips straightforward.
Homes, lots, and neighborhood feel
Ridgewood
You’ll see a broad mix of late-19th and early-20th-century Victorians, Tudors, and Colonials, plus many renovated and expanded homes. Lot sizes range from traditional suburban parcels to larger properties in certain pockets. Recent municipal planning documents describe a high median home value and a varied housing stock across neighborhoods. For planning context, consult Ridgewood’s housing element and fair share plan.
Glen Rock
Glen Rock offers many modest-to-mid-size single-family homes, including bungalows, Tudors, and Colonials. Yards are often smaller than parts of Ridgewood or Ho-Ho-Kus, and inventory can feel tight given the borough’s compact footprint. A condensed overview of the borough and its characteristics is available in this Glen Rock profile.
Ho-Ho-Kus
Ho-Ho-Kus leans toward comparatively larger lots and an estate-style ambiance in several areas, with classic Tudors, Colonials, and newer custom homes. Inventory is lower-volume and more boutique, which can make timing important if you’re watching for a specific style or location. For a quick sense of the local character, see this Ho-Ho-Kus community overview.
Prices and property taxes: 2025 state snapshot
New Jersey’s Department of the Treasury publishes an annual municipal “Average Residential Statistics” report that lists the average property tax bill and average residential sales price. These statewide figures are an authoritative reference point for town-to-town comparisons.
| Town | 2025 Avg Property Tax Bill | 2025 Avg Sales Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ridgewood (Village) | $20,596 | $1,345,962.79 |
| Glen Rock (Boro) | $20,141 | $1,030,425.45 |
| Ho-Ho-Kus (Boro) | $19,834 | $1,285,828.96 |
Source: NJ Department of the Treasury, 2025 Average Residential Statistics
How to read these numbers
State averages can be influenced by the mix of homes that sold in a given year. They are different from a rolling MLS median. For a current-market snapshot, consumer sites report monthly medians that change by season and inventory. For example, Redfin reported a Ridgewood median sale price near $900,000 in February 2026, reflecting month-by-month MLS activity. See the latest Ridgewood market snapshot to compare current medians to the state average above.
Practical takeaway: use the 2025 Treasury figures when you want a consistent, town-level baseline for taxes and average sale context. Use recent MLS or reputable consumer medians when you want a “right now” read on pricing trends. Both are useful, just different measures.
How to decide what fits you
- Clarify your daily patterns. If you want a lively, walkable downtown with many dining options, Ridgewood stands out. If a smaller, tight-knit core is more your speed, Glen Rock or Ho-Ho-Kus may feel right.
- Map your commute. Compare rail schedules from each station and consider parking or drop-off routines. If you value schedule flexibility, Glen Rock’s two stations can help.
- Match schools to student needs. Review NJDOE 2023–24 reports for course access, co-curriculars, and outcomes. If a single PK–12 system appeals, you may prefer Ridgewood or Glen Rock. If you like the K–8 plus regional HS setup, Ho-Ho-Kus is a strong candidate.
- Walk sample streets at different times. Visit on a weekday morning and a weekend afternoon to feel traffic, noise levels, and foot traffic near each downtown or station.
- Align the budget. Use the 2025 tax and average-sale table as a baseline, then check current monthly medians to gauge today’s competition. Build in room for taxes, utilities, and expected updates.
When you are ready to compare on the ground, schedule private tours and block time for a live commute test. If you want a curated shortlist and data-backed guidance, reach out to Claudia H. Sanchez for a personalized consultation.
FAQs
What are the main differences among Ridgewood, Glen Rock, and Ho-Ho-Kus?
- Ridgewood offers the largest, most active downtown and a PK–12 district; Glen Rock has a compact core with two train stations; Ho-Ho-Kus provides a quieter village center, comparatively larger lots, and a K–8 plus regional high school setup.
How do 2025 property taxes and average sale prices compare across the towns?
- According to the NJ Treasury 2025 averages, Ridgewood’s tax bill averages $20,596 and sales price $1,345,962.79; Glen Rock’s are $20,141 and $1,030,425.45; Ho-Ho-Kus’s are $19,834 and $1,285,828.96.
What is the typical NYC commute like from these towns?
- All three sit on NJ Transit’s Main/Bergen corridor with Hoboken service and Secaucus transfers to Midtown; typical door-to-door times vary, often around 45–70 minutes depending on schedule and transfers.
How do the public school systems differ in structure?
- Ridgewood and Glen Rock each run a single K–12 system with one high school; Ho-Ho-Kus runs PK–8 locally, and students attend Northern Highlands Regional High School for grades 9–12.
What home styles are most common in each town?
- Ridgewood features a broad mix of Victorians, Tudors, and Colonials; Glen Rock leans modest-to-mid-size single-family homes like bungalows, Tudors, and Colonials; Ho-Ho-Kus has classic styles with comparatively larger lots and an estate feel in some areas.
Is there bus service to Port Authority from this area?
- Yes. NJ Transit route 164 connects the Ridgewood/Glen Rock corridor to the Port Authority Bus Terminal; check the NJT 164 MyBus page for current stops and times.
How competitive is the current Ridgewood market?
- Monthly medians change with inventory; Redfin showed a median near $900,000 in February 2026, so request an updated snapshot and local comps before you offer.
