Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Ridgewood, NJ

    Is Ridgewood a good place to live?

    Watch Ridgewood

    Ridgewood ranks #2 of 42 New Jersey cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (84/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $882,700
    +2.8% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $2,340
    per month
    Household income
    $217,250
    median
    Unemployment
    3.5%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Ridgewood

    The median home value in Ridgewood is $882,700 and median rent is $2,340 a month, against a median household income of $217,250. Homes cost about 4.1× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Ridgewood crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across New Jersey the 2025 rate was 199 violent and 1,268 property crimes per 100,000 people — #39 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Ridgewood, NJ

    Ridgewood has about 26,076 residents, 3.5% unemployment and 43% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Ridgewood with

    Ridgewood vs NewarkRidgewood vs Jersey CityRidgewood vs PatersonRidgewood vs ElizabethRidgewood vs Toms RiverRidgewood vs TrentonRidgewood vs CliftonRidgewood vs Camden

    More: Where to move in New Jersey · Best counties in New Jersey

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report