The Town FilesRiver Vale, New Jersey
Township in Bergen County · population 9,909 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $775,000
- Household income
- $213,666
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 44.6
River Vale is a township of 9,909 people in Bergen County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $775,000, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more of a college town than 96% of New Jersey towns, better for families than 89% of New Jersey towns, more upscale than 88% of New Jersey towns.
How River Vale ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in River Vale is worth $775,000, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $213,666, which is more affordable than 58% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,455 a month. 90.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | River Vale | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $775,000 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,455 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $213,666 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.0% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in River Vale
| People | River Vale | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 71.9% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.8% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.9% | — |
| Work from home | 27.0% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 39.2 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 94.6% |
Weather in River Vale
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 23.1°F. About 51.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.7 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of River Vale since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 12, 2006 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 7, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 8, 2021.
Severe weather in Bergen County since 1996
Bergen County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Bergen County
Bergen County had 438,240 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $80,639 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in River Vale itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in River Vale
3 public schools with 985 students, about 9.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holdrum Middle School | 6-8 | 348 | 8.5 |
| Roberge Elementary School | PK-5 | 321 | 8.9 |
| Woodside Elementary School | K-5 | 316 | 13.7 |
Towns near River Vale
- Old Tappan, NJ1.3 mi · 5,888 people · home $951,300
- Hillsdale, NJ2.1 mi · 10,143 people · home $677,500
- Harrington Park, NJ2.1 mi · 4,741 people · home $776,900
- Westwood, NJ2.2 mi · 11,282 people · home $606,400
- Park Ridge, NJ2.5 mi · 8,883 people · home $706,200
- Emerson, NJ2.8 mi · 7,290 people · home $645,200
- Woodcliff Lake, NJ2.9 mi · 6,128 people · home $946,400
- Tappan, NY3.0 mi · 6,673 people · home $644,200
River Vale questions
Is River Vale, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, River Vale scores better for retirees than 71% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 30%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in River Vale?
The median owner-occupied home in River Vale is valued at $775,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $213,666, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,455 a month.
What is the weather like in River Vale?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 23.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.2 inches of precipitation a year and 32.7 inches of snow.
Does River Vale get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of River Vale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 12, 2006. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)