Living in Old Tappan
NV/Old Tappan HS In-Borough. $205K Median Income. 2.202% Tax Rate.
Northern Bergen's Most Prestigious Address.
Everything you need to know before making Old Tappan, NJ home.
Old Tappan is Bergen County's most prestigious northern address — a 4.14-square-mile borough at the New York state line, incorporated in 1894, which grew from celery and strawberry farms into one of New Jersey's wealthiest communities. The median household income is $205,385 — among Bergen County's highest — with Asian households at $202,189 and White households at $176,775 reflecting a community where professional achievement is the shared baseline. 94.1% of housing units are owner-occupied. The borough has grown 12% since the 2020 Census — the fastest-growing community in the northern Bergen corridor — driven by Korean and South Asian professional families who have specifically targeted the Northern Valley school district. The defining fact: NV/Old Tappan High School is located at 100 Central Avenue — in the borough itself. Old Tappan is not just served by the Blue Ribbon school; the school is here.
The tax profile is equally compelling: a 2.202% general tax rate — one of Bergen County's lowest among mainstream residential communities — producing a 2024 average bill of $18,101. For a community where Redfin reported a $1.077M median sale (+20% YoY) and where active list medians have hit $1.4M+, the 2.202% rate delivers meaningful carrying-cost relief relative to comparable northern Bergen communities. The borough's 41% Asian population, its 29.6% foreign-born rate, its Park & Arbor mixed-use development (110 units, 2023), and its ongoing population growth reflect a community at Bergen County's most dynamic and affluent northern intersection of established prestige and new professional energy.
Commute & Connectivity
Getting There From Here
Old Tappan is car-primary — Garden State Parkway south and Palisades Parkway connect to the GWB and Manhattan, NJ Transit bus service reaches Port Authority, and Rockland County is immediately across the border for expanded transit options.
Public Schools
Education That Raises Property Values
Old Tappan runs its own K–8 district and sends students to NV/Old Tappan — the Blue Ribbon high school located at 100 Central Avenue, Old Tappan, with 33 AP courses, 78% AP pass rate, 10.4:1 ratio, and DFG I designation.
| School | Grades | Type | Student:Teacher | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Tappan Public Schools (K–8) Old Tappan School District · highly rated |
K – 8 | Public | ~11 : 1 | A |
| NV/Old Tappan HS — IN OLD TAPPAN 100 Central Ave · Old Tappan · Golden Knights · 33 AP Courses |
9 – 12 | Public | 10.4 : 1 | Blue Ribbon · Niche A+ |
| NV Regional HS District Serves H. Park · Northvale · Norwood · Old Tappan |
9 – 12 | Regional | 9.1 : 1 | DFG I · 78% AP Pass |
NV/Old Tappan HS is located IN Old Tappan at 100 Central Avenue. Nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School. NJ Monthly #55. 1,068 students · 10.4:1 · 33 AP courses · 78% AP pass rate · Niche A+ · GreatSchools 9/10. Northern Valley Regional HS District: DFG I · 9.1:1 overall. Bergen County Academies (BCA) also accessible for qualifying students.
Neighborhood Life
What Makes Old Tappan Old Tappan
Explore Old Tappan's Korean and South Asian dining community, the Palisades Parkway's natural landscape, the Park & Arbor mixed-use development, and the community of $205K-income professionals who have made Bergen County's most prestigious northern borough their home.
By the Numbers
Old Tappan at a Glance
Explore the Area
Similar Towns Near Old Tappan
Buyers considering Old Tappan often explore these neighboring northern Bergen and NY-border communities — all sharing the NV/Old Tappan school corridor or adjacent at Bergen County's northern tip.
Featured Listings
Common Questions
Old Tappan, NJ — Frequently Asked Questions
Real answers about buying, selling, taxes, schools, and daily life in Old Tappan — Bergen County's most prestigious northern borough, with NV/Old Tappan HS physically located here (Blue Ribbon, 33 AP, 10.4:1), $205K median HH income, 41% Asian community, 2.202% tax rate, $18,101 average bill, and +12% population growth since 2020.


