The Town FilesOld Tappan, New Jersey
Borough in Bergen County · population 5,888 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $951,300
- Household income
- $205,385
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 44.4
Old Tappan is a borough of 5,888 people in Bergen County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $951,300, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more upscale than 98% of New Jersey towns, better for families than 90% of New Jersey towns, better for retirees than 88% of New Jersey towns.
How Old Tappan 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 Old Tappan is worth $951,300, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $205,385, which is more affordable than 25% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $3,501 a month. 94.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Old Tappan | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $951,300 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $3,501 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $205,385 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.1% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Old Tappan
| People | Old Tappan | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.9% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.3% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 29.6% | — |
| Work from home | 19.5% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 33.7 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.3% | 94.6% |
Weather in Old Tappan
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
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Old Tappan 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 6.8 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 50 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 Old Tappan itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Old Tappan
3 public schools with 1,826 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan | 9-12 | 1,068 | 10.5 |
| T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School | PK-4 | 399 | 12.1 |
| Charles DeWolf Middle School | 5-8 | 359 | 11.6 |
Towns near Old Tappan
- River Vale, NJ1.3 mi · 9,909 people · home $775,000
- Tappan, NY1.7 mi · 6,673 people · home $644,200
- Northvale, NJ2.0 mi · 4,761 people · home $592,400
- Harrington Park, NJ2.2 mi · 4,741 people · home $776,900
- Norwood, NJ2.8 mi · 5,641 people · home $709,100
- Orangetown, NY2.8 mi · 48,655 people · home $638,100
- Orangeburg, NY2.9 mi · 4,565 people · home $646,400
- Pearl River, NY2.9 mi · 16,567 people · home $608,200
Old Tappan questions
Is Old Tappan, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Old Tappan scores better for retirees than 88% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 63%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.4).
How much does a house cost in Old Tappan?
The median owner-occupied home in Old Tappan is valued at $951,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $205,385, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $3,501 a month.
What is the weather like in Old Tappan?
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 Old Tappan get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Old Tappan 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)