CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

41.02° N · 73.98° W · GEOID 3454870

Old Tappan

Bergen County, New Jersey · part of the New York, NY metro

New JerseyOld Tappan, NJOld TappanOld Tappan

The short answer

Old Tappan is home to 6,008 people. Median household income is $205,385 a year and median rent is $3,501 a month, 20.5% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $951,300, about 4.6x annual median household income.

The story in Old Tappan is how fast things are changing. Population change sped up in the latest estimate: +5.9% from 2024 to 2025, against +1.8% a year before that. Also notable: After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $155,300 a year, more than in 94% of places its size.

81OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Strong

Old Tappan scores better than 81% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 65th of 287 in New Jersey.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%40
Economy 20%65
Safety 20%96
Amenities 15%44
Education 10%98
Commute 10%10
Growth 5%95
Median gross rent
$3,501
156% above the median place
Median household income
$205,385
156% above the median place
Median home value
$951,300
198% above the median place
Unemployment
5.8%
19% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Old Tappan

  • Value for moneyRent is about 24% higher than we would expect for a place with these incomes, education levels, housing age and household types in the same metro area. The premium usually reflects location, amenities or schools that these figures do not capture. Experimental
01

Moving to Old Tappan

Bergen County loses about 1.8 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in38,372
Moved out39,875
Net−1,503

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Hudson County, NJ6,7213,312+3,409
Passaic County, NJ4,9304,509+421
New York County, NY3,1332,078+1,055
Essex County, NJ1,9891,980+9
Queens County, NY2,637854+1,783
Kings County, NY1,619

Within New Jersey, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within New JerseyOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$115K
Leavers$114K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Bergen County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
4.5% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.9% from another state. County figure.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Bergen County report $115,300 a year in income on average; those leaving, $114,000.
Income you would need
$140,000 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $3,501 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $4,001 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $951,300.
Getting to work
34 minutes each way on average; 19.5% work from home; 10.4% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
South Barrington, IL matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Income of households moving in8
$115,305
63% above the median place
Income of households moving out8
$114,026
62% above the median place
Moved here in the past year1
4.5%
22% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureOld TappanAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year1County figure4.5%22% below
Moved from another state1County figure1.9%6% below
Net movers per 1,000 people8County figure-1.8200% below
Income of households moving in8County figure$115,30563% above
Income of households moving out8County figure$114,02662% above
02

What it costs to live here

The median household earns $205,385 a year, more than in 97% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

Old Tappan20.5%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$140,040
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
20.5%
0% above the median place
Home price to income
4.6x
22% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
20%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$155,000
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Old Tappan, $3,501 a month, and local prices for everything else (105.2 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Old Tappan, but easier on the budget

Places that match Old Tappan on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
South Barrington, IL9211.9% vs 20.5%$36,300Compare
Braddock, VA8113.7% vs 20.5%$26,900Compare
Travilah, MD8116.8% vs 20.5%$52,200Compare
Dix Hills, NY7814.0% vs 20.5%$31,100Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Old Tappan.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Old Tappan? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Homeownership1
94.1%
42% above the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$4,001
114% above the median place
Median home value1
$951,300
198% above the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureOld TappanAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$3,501156% above
Rent to income120.5%0% above
Home price to income14.6x22% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure112.612% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,28241% above
HUD area median income4County figure$139,10030% above
Property tax paid (median)1$10,001206% above
Median home value1$951,300198% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure6.8%113% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure52.0%1% above
Homeownership194.1%42% above
Renters paying 30%+1County figure50.8%0% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$4,001114% above
Vacant homes1County figure3.9%44% below
Median year built119860% above
03

Work and pay

Median household income is $205,385, 156% above the median place.

Median household income1
$205,385
156% above the median place
Income per person1
$78,124
95% above the median place
Mean commute1
34 min
35% above the median place
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureOld TappanAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$205,385156% above
Income per person1$78,12495% above
Unemployment1County figure5.8%19% above
Average annual pay6County figure$83,43126% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure3.5%5% below
Jobs6County figure437,006190% above
Poverty rate1County figure6.8%37% below
Mean commute134 min35% above
Works from home119.5%57% above
Commutes by transit1County figure10.4%above (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Bachelor's or higher is 76.9%, 140% above the median place.

Bachelor's or higher1
76.9%
140% above the median place
Born abroad1
29.6%
236% above the median place
Household size1
3.1
24% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

High school or higher97.1% +5%
Homes with broadband96.3% +4%
Median age44.4 +14%
All 9 people measures
MeasureOld TappanAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population16,0085935th largest
Population change since 2020713.5%above (median 1.1%)
Median age144.414% above
Bachelor's or higher176.9%140% above
High school or higher197.1%5% above
Household size13.124% above
Born abroad129.6%236% above
No health insurance1County figure6.1%5% below
Homes with broadband196.3%4% above
05

Life in Old Tappan

23 National Park Service sites lie within 60 miles, more than in 95% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

Founded or incorporated in 1894. 4 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 4 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

  • Haring, Teunis, House listed 1979
  • Haring, Frederick, House listed 1983
  • Haring, Gerrit, House listed 1983
  • Haring-DeWolf House listed 1983

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents16.6 +64%
Playgrounds per 10k10.0 +6%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k10.0 −10%
Libraries per 10k3.3 3.8×
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.3 +43%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site 12 miles
  • Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park 12 miles
  • Hamilton Grange National Memorial 14 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars28.4 +37%
Shops36.3 +20%
Arts, recreation and fitness5.1 +24%
Doctors' offices and clinics35.7 +77%
Child care centers3.3 +43%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Students per teacher14
10.7
31% below the median place
Public schools14
3
67% below the median place
Public school students14
1,830
63% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureOld TappanAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools14367% below
Public school students141,83063% below
Students per teacher1410.731% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k9County figure28.437% above
Shops per 10k9County figure36.320% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9County figure5.124% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k9County figure35.777% above
Child care centers per 10k9County figure3.343% above
Parks per 10k1016.664% above
Playgrounds per 10k1010.06% above
Grocery stores per 10k100.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k1010.010% below
Libraries per 10k103.3283% above
Named paths and bike trails100.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi100.343% above
Nearest National Park Service site1111.961% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles1123above (median 2)
National Register listings12469% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 31, 84% below the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
31
84% below the median place
Property crime per 100k
170
86% below the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

Wildfire risk16
21.7
65% below the median place
Natural hazard risk16
97.8
6% above the median place
Hurricane risk16
92.8
31% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureOld TappanAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high15County figure86°F1% below
January average low15County figure22°F11% below
Average temperature15County figure53°F3% below
Annual precipitation15County figure48.1 in10% above
Natural hazard risk16County figure97.86% above
Hurricane risk16County figure92.831% above
Tornado risk16County figure92.313% above
Wildfire risk16County figure21.765% below
Heat wave risk16County figure96.87% above
Median air quality index17County figure407% below
Good air days17County figure71.1%4% above
08

Old Tappan in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 21% of the median income in 2030, up from 20% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Old Tappan does better than 40% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 5%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$3,501/mo (2024)$4,610/mo$3,780 to $5,620/mo+4.7%
Median household income$205,385 (2024)$262,000$221,500 to $310,000+4.2%
Median home value$951,300 (2024)$1,310,000$951,000 to $1,805,000+5.5%
Population6,686 (2025)7,1906,900 to 7,500+1.5%

The median home would be worth 5.0 years of the median income in 2030, against 4.6 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Old Tappan

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Tenafly, NJ$3,501$208,200Compare
Fort Hunt, VA$3,501$216,038Compare
North Caldwell, NJ$3,329$208,245Compare
South Kensington, MD$3,479$210,953Compare
South Kensington, MDNorth Caldwell, NJFort Hunt, VATenafly, NJOld Tappan, NJOld TappanTenaflyFort HuntOld TappanTenaflyFort Hunt

Places built like Old Tappan

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Old Tappan performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Old Tappan, NJ20.5%7.3%/yr13.5%
Troy Hills, NJ20.3%3.1%/yrn/aCompare
Kendall Park, NJ13.9%5.0%/yrn/aCompare
Norwood, NJ14.1%7.9%/yr3.2%Compare
South Barrington, IL11.9%9.8%/yr-0.1%Compare
Dayton, NJ17.4%4.7%/yrn/aCompare
Blackwells Mills, NJ15.4%4.9%/yrn/aCompare

Common questions

Is Old Tappan a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 81 out of 100, better than 81% of the places we rate and 65th of 287 in New Jersey. Rent is about 24% higher than we would expect for a place with these incomes, education levels, housing age and household types in the same metro area. The premium usually reflects location, amenities or schools that these figures do not capture. On cost, space and class size it scores 91 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Old Tappan expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 20.5% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $951,300.

What salary do you need to live in Old Tappan?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $140,040 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Old Tappan safe?

There were 31 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Old Tappan?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Tenafly, NJ, Fort Hunt, VA, North Caldwell, NJ and South Kensington, MD.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  8. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  9. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  10. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  11. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  12. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  13. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  14. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  15. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  16. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  17. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Old Tappan with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Old Tappan itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/old-tappan-new-jersey

Citytistics. “Old Tappan, New Jersey.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/old-tappan-new-jersey/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.