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A warm and welcoming borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, Glen Rock offers the perfect blend of small-town charm and easy accessibility to metropolitan life. It sits just 23 miles

from New York City and is well-known for its vibrant family-friendly way of life with its safe environment, esteemed schools, expansive parks, and diverse attractions.

The borough has a total area of 2.74 square miles and a population of 12,039 as of the latest Census estimates. Glen Rock, NJ homes for sale line tranquil leafy streets where neighbors know each other and get together in several local events throughout the year. The town has been named one of the best places to live and one of the best places to raise a family in the Garden State.

Looking to make Glen Rock your home? Here’s everything you need to know about this highly desirable community.

Glen Rock through the years

Established in 1894 from portions of Ridgewood and Saddle River, Glen Rock was settled around a significant boulder situated in a valley (glen), giving the borough its name. This glacial erratic, weighing a massive 570 short tons, stands where Doremus Avenue and Rock Road converge.

It’s believed that a glacier transported this rock from near Peekskill, New York, covering 20 miles to its current location 15,000 years ago. The Lenape Native Americans named this boulder “Pamachapuka,” which translates to ‘stone from heaven’ or ‘stone from the sky.’

Historically, this rock served not just as a trail marker for the Lenni Lenape but also as a World War I memorial, housing a time capsule set to be unveiled in 2044 for Glen Rock’s 150th anniversary.

Glen Rock today

A true representation of a charming small town with big city amenities, Glen Rock is a close knit community with a walkable downtown where residents enjoy family owned shops, restaurants, and other establishments, including a grocery store that has been serving the area since 1916.

Residents are highly engaged in the town’s cultural, athletic, and civic activities. Local organizations include the Community Garden Club, which nurtures green thumbs, while the Arts Council of Glen Rock fosters creativity and artistic expression. The Glen Rock Athletic Club champions physical wellness and competitive spirit and the Glen Rock Historical & Preservation Society safeguards the borough’s rich heritage, along with the Glen Rock Library, which offers various programs for residents of all ages. Young baseball enthusiasts gather at Glen Rock Little League, and the NJ Dog Park Inc. is perfect for those with furry loved ones.

New and current residents also comfortably enjoy the activities of the Newcomers and Neighbors Club. This club, established to foster relationships among new and longstanding residents, hosts events ranging from Ladies’ Night Out to Kids’ Field Trips, with an added emphasis on community service through volunteering opportunities.

Glen Rock was also honored with the “Healthy Town to Watch” designation by the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute in 2022, recognizing its commendable efforts in the Mayors Wellness Campaign. This campaign is a New Jersey-wide initiative promoting better health and well-being in communities. Glen Rock has launched various programs catering to all age groups, such as Glen Rock Walkers, Health Checks, and Senior Fest.

Who lives here

With a relatively easy 50 to 60 minute commute to New York City, it’s not surprising that Glen Rock serves as an ideal bedroom community for the Big Apple. Glen Rock is home to many young professionals working in the tech and finance sector, as well as in the arts, design, and media. The population is highly educated, with around 76% of adult residents having a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Many residents are best described as “urban sophisticates” – affluent and educated individuals who are avid enthusiasts of bookstores, high-end fashion, luxury travel, and arts institutions like opera, symphony, ballet, and theater.

Real Estate and homes for sale in Glen Rock, NJ

Single family homes with three to five bedrooms dominate Glen Rock real estate, and they come in a wide array of sizes, prices, and ages. Most feature spacious yards and gardens that add to the town’s welcoming allure.

Glen Rock boasts an eclectic mix of architectural styles, each representing a distinct period in the borough’s history. A significant portion of residences were constructed in the 1920s and 1930s and bear the architectural trends of that era. You will also find quite a few new construction homes with the latest fixtures and amenities.

The town’s streets are lined with Craftsman bungalows, identifiable by their leaded glass windows and double French doors. Some of these bungalows are over a century old, standing as a testament to Glen Rock’s architectural heritage. Elegant Colonials also grace the borough alongside homes that feature in-ground pools.

The diversity of Glen Rock’s homes continues with newer, larger colonials in areas like Dunham Place and its neighboring streets in the northwest. Conversely, the eastern part of the borough showcases ranch homes and splits, while charming bungalows can be found closer to the town center.

Living in Glen Rock, NJ

Cost of living

With everything it has to offer, it comes as no surprise that the cost of living in Glen Rock is relatively higher than the rest of New Jersey and the US. Real estate in the borough is considered one of the highest priced not only in the state but throughout the country as well. Glen Rock is the choice of discerning residents who are willing to pay a premium for the amazing benefits and high quality of life it offers. The median household income is $182,292, significantly above the national average of $70,784 (as of 2021)

Getting around

Glen Rock is served by two New Jersey Transit stations, which bring passengers to the Hoboken Terminal and allow transfers to Penn Station in Manhattan. Numerous bus lines also serve the borough, including bus service connecting passengers to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.

Education

The Glen Rock School District is renowned for its comprehensive academics, exemplary sportsmanship, and leadership development. Every school within the district hosts its own Home and School Association, fostering community engagement.

Public schools in the vicinity include the renowned magnet school Bergen County Academies, as well as Central Elementary School, Alexander Hamilton School, and Richard E. Byrd Elementary School. Middle schoolers can go to Glen Rock Middle School and Benjamin Franklin Middle School, while high schoolers can attend Glen Rock High School or Bergen County Technical High School – Teterboro.

The area also offers esteemed private and charter institutions like the Academy of Our Lady at St. Catharine, All Saints Church Preschool, Dwight-Englewood School, Primoris Academy, Saddle River Day School, Bergen Catholic High School, and The Frisch School.

Parks and Recreational Facilities

Recreational activities in Glen Rock are diverse and cater to both individual and family needs. The town’s aquatic facility features an Olympic-sized main pool featuring 8 lap lanes and a towering 25-foot slide. There is also a children’s pool that offers a gentle entry and is equipped with varied water features like sprinklers and interactive faucets. This two-acre facility also houses a snack bar and conducts a special Kindergarten Swim Lesson program (K-Swim).

Glen Rock’s parks and playgrounds stand as testaments to the town’s commitment to outdoor recreation. A multi-use path encompasses amenities such as two tennis courts, a playground, picnic areas, and two pavilions equipped with electric setups. There are also trout-stocked fishing waters that invite anglers (with a necessary NJ state fishing license). In colder months, the park opens for ice-skating.

One of the town’s highlights is easy access to the Bergen County Park system. The Saddle River County Park runs right through Glen Rock, stretching over 577 acres. This park consists of five major areas, all interconnected by a bike and pedestrian path stretching about 6 miles from Ridgewood to Rochelle Park. This county park system also includes a nationally accredited zoo, multiple golf courses, horseback riding areas, an environmental center, and historic sites.

Local Glen Rock parks and fields enhance the town’s green footprint. Passive parks and open spaces include Veteran’s Park, Dean Street, Demarest Park, and Triangle Park. For sports enthusiasts, fields like Sycamore Park, Main Street Field, Wilde Memorial Fields, and Faber Field (boasting a baseball diamond) await.

The active parks in the area offer a plethora of activities – from playgrounds like Children’s Park Playground and Wilde Memorial Playground to serene spots like the Arboretum and the Glen Rock Dog Park. The community garden fosters local agriculture.

Each park is thoughtfully equipped with benches, picnic tables, play equipment, and paths for walking and biking. More details on these recreational offerings can be explored at Glen Rock’s official recreation page.

Other Attractions and Destinations

A place rich with experiences, Glen Rock also offers a variety of options on dining, shopping, and other points of interests for its residents and visitors.

Dining

For the food enthusiasts, there’s a delightful mix to choose from. These are some of the top places to go:

Shopping

When it comes to retail therapy, Glen Rock doesn’t disappoint with options that include:

Other shopping options near Glen Rock include Westfield Garden State Plaza, Nordstorm Rack, American Dream, and The Shops at Riverside.

Active Sports

Love the active lifestyle? These places are for you:

The Outdoors

Glen Rock beckons nature lovers with the diverse array of nature preserves, wilderness areas, and state parks that surround the borough:

  • The Thielke Arboretum for a memorable exploration of the beauty of nature.
  • Garret Mountain Reservation spans a vast 685 acres and is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. This recreational park showcases lush greenery, a pristine lake, and trails tailored for hiking and biking. The waters are abundant with different fishes, while bird enthusiasts fall in love with the songs of migrating birds, including over 150 different species.
  • High Mountain Park Preserve, established in 1903, is a protected sanctuary spanning 1,200 acres of wetlands and forests. As the largest conservation area in the vicinity, it is home to an impressive 380 plant species.

Historical sites

Residents with a penchant for heritage sites will enjoy these destinations.

  • The Museum at the Station, detailed at Glen Rock History, provides insights into Glen Rock’s past.

  • The Hermitage Museum in Ho-Ho-Kus is a significant landmark. This stone house has the distinction of being visited by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. As a National Historic Landmark, it serves as both a witness to history and a house museum.

  • The Mahwah Museum is a diverse space that hosts a tribute to the legendary Les Paul, showcasing his iconic guitars. The museum also chronicles Mahwah’s history through interactive displays, while the Donald Cooper Railroad, featuring an HO model train layout, is a joy for visitors of all ages.

  • The Schoolhouse Museum, preserved by the Ridgewood Historical Society, operates within a one-room schoolhouse constructed in 1872. Exhibitions provide glimpses of the Saddle River Valley area’s past through a rich collection of artifacts and textiles.

  • The Old Stone House, dating back to the early 1700s, is a reflection of Dutch Colonial architecture, with rooms decorated by 17th and 18th-century local antiques that transport visitors to an earlier time. Upstairs, a museum catered to children. Also nearby is the restored 19th-century Jacob May Barn.

  • Spanning 22 rooms, the Colonial-Revival Era John Fell Residence once housed an influential Founding Father, a Civil War leader, and the beginnings of Allendale’s first church. This vast 2.8-acre area also features a Gothic-style barn, preserved wetlands, and a cluster of age-old trees.

  • The Hopper-Goetschius homestead, built from Dutch stone, sits as the main attraction amidst a traditional farm setting. Most of the decor inside the house go back to the original interiors, with surrounding structures including a separate kitchen with a beehive oven, a smokehouse, and a Dutch barn.

Find the perfect home in Glen Rock with The Gubb Team

Searching Glen Rock, NJ homes for sale? Experience the premier service of a seasoned real estate team with two decades of expertise. Reach out to us at The Gubb Team for a personalized consultation.

Our mission is to deliver unparalleled service, ensuring a seamless buying or selling experience for our clients. As professional Realtors in Glen Rock, NJ, we recognize the unique aspirations of each client and are dedicated to catering to a wide range of services. With a specialization in homes, single family homes, and luxury residential properties, we are ready to cater to your bespoke real estate needs.

Let’s take a step towards your Glen Rock home. Contact us today at 201.299.6261, or drop us an email at davidgubb(at)thegubbteam(dotted)com.

Some of these houses for sale in Glen Rock, NJ include a serene oasis retreat property at 9 Cumberland Rd, Glen Rock, NJ 07452. This 2,364 sqft home, built in 1925, exudes charm with its brick-edged walkway flanked by boxwoods leading to a columned entry adorned with board and batten shutters. The interior showcases a classic center hall, a sweeping staircase, walk-in closets, French doors, and elegant archways. The kitchen is equipped with a Viking stove, granite counters, and a travertine backsplash. Hardwood flooring runs throughout the home, which comprises 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Outdoors, one can enjoy firepit and hot tub gatherings, set against a backdrop of a Stone Retaining Wall.

A stone’s throw away, 65 Oak Knoll Road, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 presents a two-story colonial-style home. This residence features 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and an open floor concept accentuated by oak hardwood flooring and wide archways. The exterior, clad in vinyl, is complemented by a spacious, fenced-in yard. Additionally, the property boasts a one-car attached garage, a paver driveway, and outdoor spaces for relaxation, including a deck and patio.

In the past year, Glen Rock has witnessed significant growth in the real estate sector. Home appreciation increased by 7.6% as noted by BestPlaces, while according to Glen Rock, NJ real estate data from Realtor.com in July 2023, the median listing home price per square foot stands at $368, and homes have been selling at a median price of $850K. This indicates that Glen Rock is predominantly a seller’s market, signifying that demand exceeds the supply of homes available.

Comparatively, the median home value in Glen Rock is considerably higher than the national average, at $695,300 versus $244,900. Additionally, the median rent in Glen Rock is $1,818, again surpassing the national average of $1,163. With these data, the desirability and premium nature of living in Glen Rock is further highlighted, supplementing the number of residents making Glen Rock their new homes.

Historical and architectural styles in Glen Rock

As one explores this lovely town, Glen Rock showcases through its structures a rich history of Dutch Colonial influences with varied architectural styles, reflecting the borough’s diverse heritage and timeless charm.

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