With quiet residential developments and vibrant business districts, Fair Lawn’s motto is “A great place to visit and an even better place to live.” Located about 12 miles northwest of New York City, the suburban borough has seen an influx of new construction and local businesses in recent years as its population has climbed to over 35,500. “Fair Lawn is very vibrant and diverse, with a mix of historical and new, says Zohar Zamir, founder of The Zamir Group with Keller Williams Village Square Realty. “It’s attracted a new generation that wants a new and renovated home, while still being able to commute to Manhattan.” Despite the proximity to the Big Apple, Fair Lawn maintains its sense of community and unique identity, with a 2024 article from WalletHub listing it as one of the best small cities in America. “If you want to be as close as you can to the city, but in a good town with great schools, Fair Lawn is a great landing place,” says Nena Colligan, a Realtor with Keller Williams Village Square Realty with over 20 years of experience selling homes in the area. “We’re a New York City bedroom community, and this whole area is on a great train line to get into the city.”
Fair Lawn is a great place to visit and an even better place to live.
Fair Lawn is a very vibrant and diverse community with something for everyone to enjoy.
Radburn Plaza is a historic landmark in Fair Lawn, showcasing its innovative 1929 design.
Broadway Train Station in Fair Lawn offers convenient commutes to New York City and beyond.
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A mix of new and old, the Radburn Association and home prices
Fair Lawn features a variety of established neighborhoods and new construction. “It offers everything. There are co-ops, condos, townhouses, attached homes and single-family homes,” Colligan says. “Within the single-family home genre, there’s everything from cute little Cape Cods to well over a million-dollar McMansions. There’s also some magnificent new construction that’s been built since they’ve started tearing down older homes.” In the heart of the borough is Radburn, a planned community that dates to 1929 and offers a host of local amenities. “When you live in Radburn, you have to pay dues to the Radburn Association,” Colligan says. “It really is a special community. For those dues, you get summer camps, pools and all kinds of organized activities. Most of it is laid out so that the kids can walk to school without even crossing the street.” The median price of single-family homes is $650,000, higher than the national median of around $420,000. But despite that price differential, the borough tends to be more affordable than those further west outside of New York City, with homes in communities like Glen Rock and Ridgewood fetching upwards of $900,000. “The difference in prices between the next train stop is phenomenal,” Colligan says. “Fair Lawn is a bit more reasonable, and there’s a better chance of getting into the market here.” Townhouses typically sell for around $770,000, and most properties sell after less than two months on the market.
Fair Lawn features modern townhouses that blend style, comfort, and convenient living.
Fair Lawn offers single-family homes in welcoming and well-planned neighborhoods.
Fair Lawn features magnificent new construction replacing older homes with modern designs.
Radburn, a 1929 planned community in Fair Lawn, offers a range of local amenities.
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Broadway business district and proximity to Westfield Garden State Plaza
The Fair Lawn Marketplace lists more than 600 shops, restaurants and local businesses in the borough. “Some places have been here for 50 to 60 years or more, so there’s a lot of local businesses with pride,” Zamir says. Shopping and dining are concentrated along Fair Lawn Avenue, River Road and Broadway. “The busiest road is Broadway, which is nothing like the New York City Broadway,” Colligan says. “It’s a small highway that’s covered with businesses. It depends on where you live, but there aren’t too many places where you can’t walk to something.” Fair Lawn Main Street Inc. is a local volunteer group that oversees the River Road Improvement District and the Broadway Improvement District, and the organization received a $43,500 grant from the NJ Asset Activation Planning Grant Program in September of 2024 to continue developing the Broadway commercial corridor. While the project is ongoing, plans include the improvement of sidewalks and the addition of public art along Broadway. Fair Lawn Main Street Inc. also supports the borough’s local businesses with seasonal showcases, pop-up shops and more. Residents can find North Jersey classics at River Road Hot Bagels, a longstanding institution proudly serving Taylor ham. “We also have a great local, specialty food culture, including Jewish, Russian and Turkish spots,” Zamir says. Fair Lawn is less than 4 miles from Westfield Garden State Plaza, an indoor shopping mall with more than 300 retailers, making it the second-largest mall in New Jersey.
Simply You Hair Studio & Spa in Fair Lawn offers personalized care in a relaxing setting.
Shopping and dining in Fair Lawn are concentrated along vibrant Broadway.
River Road Hot Bagels is a Fair Lawn favorite for fresh bagels and classic flavors.
Fair Lawn is 4 miles from Westfield Garden State Plaza, New Jersey’s second-largest mall.
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NJ Transit train stations, NYC commutes and nearby industrial park
Fair Lawn’s overall Walk Score is 77 out of 100, and residents can walk to many of its parks, local businesses and schools. The borough is home to two train stations, Radburn and Broadway, on the NJ Transit’s Bergen County Line. “The mass transit to go into New York City is just fabulous,” Colligan says. NYC’s Penn Station is about a 50-minute train ride away, and the NJ Transit also offers local bus service into the city. Those who prefer to drive can get on New Jersey Route 4 and cross over the George Washington Bridge into NYC, about 12 miles west of the borough. Newark Liberty International Airport is less than 30 miles away and offers direct flights to 187 destinations in 61 countries.
While Fair Lawn is primarily residential, there’s a small industrial park along Route 208 that was developed in the 1950s. “It’s not industrial where there are smokestacks or anything like that,” Colligan says. “It’s mostly offices and warehouses. Nabisco used to be there, and the whole area would smell like cookies on baking day.” While businesses like Nabisco have closed their doors in recent years, major employers like Columbia Bank and U.S. Technologies are headquartered in Fair Lawn. Bergen County lists Hackensack University Medical Center as its top employer, which is less than 10 miles from the borough. “The county is right outside New York City, so it’s also a bedroom community for people who commute into the city,” Colligan says.
A low student-teacher ratio in Fair Lawn Public Schools
Fair Lawn Public Schools earns an overall grade of A from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. The district contains six elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school, all of which receive an A or A-minus from Niche. In 2020, Henry B. Milnes Elementary School was named a National Blue Ribbon School for its educational excellence and progress in closing achievement gaps between students. “The high school does a great job with the arts, and its productions get awards on a pretty regular basis,” Colligan says. Nearby private school options include Noble Leadership Academy, an Islamic institution serving prekindergarten through 12th grade. The borough is also less than 4 miles west of Bergen Community College, which employs more than 1,5000 people.
Memorial Middle School in Fair Lawn serves grades 5-8 with a 9:1 student-teacher ratio.
Fair Lawn High School has an overall Niche grade of A for academic excellence.
Henry B. Milnes Elementary is a National Blue Ribbon School for its excellence and progress.
Noble Leadership Academy is an Islamic school serving pre-K through 12th grade in Fair Lawn.
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Recreation at Memorial Park and the Fair Lawn Community Center
According to the Trust for Public Land, 81% of Fair Lawn residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. “There are lots of little parks spread out among the community so that your house is just a block from the closest one,” Colligan says. Local favorites include Memorial Park, which offers nearly 30 acres of green space along the Passaic River. It features a playground, various athletic facilities and a sand-bottom pool. The Memorial Park River Walk runs parallel to the waterfront, and the park’s boat ramp is a popular spot for fishing and paddle boating. In the heart of the borough is the Fair Lawn Community Center, which has an indoor track, arcade and theater that’s home to local groups like the Old Library Theatre and the Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club. The Maurice M. Pine Free Public Library supports the community with recreational and educational programs for all ages.
Residents also have access to Saddle River County Park, a linear green space that covers nearly 600 acres. A series of multi-use paths connects its various recreational areas, and the Saddle River winds along the borough’s eastern edge. Golfers can join the nearby Arcola Country Club, which is less than 4 miles from Fair Lawn and has an 18-hole championship golf course.
Memorial Park in Fair Lawn features athletic facilities and a unique sand-bottom pool.
Fair Lawn Community Center features an indoor track for fitness and community activities.
The Maurice M. Pine Library in Fair Lawn offers programs for all ages.
Fair Lawn residents enjoy access to Saddle River County Park, spanning nearly 600 acres.
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Annual celebrations and seasonal Fair Lawn Farmers Market
The borough hosts community events throughout the year. In December, the Holiday Parade of Lights & Winter Wonderland celebrates the season with festive floats, hot chocolate and ice skating in Memorial Park. Residents also head to the park in September for the Community Camp Out, which invites them to pitch their tents before watching a movie and sleeping beneath the stars. The sounds of the city are on display each June at Make Music Fair Lawn, marking the beginning of summer with a full day of street performances from local groups. Cultural festivities include the annual Latin Heritage Celebration, which brings music, dance and food from Latin America to this small borough of North Jersey. Residents can also shop local at the Fair Lawn Farmers Market, which takes place each Wednesday from June through November.
The ice cream truck is a summer favorite at Fair Lawn's Fourth Festival.
Children enjoy petting and riding horses during Fair Lawn Day festivities.
Live music entertains visitors at Fair Lawn's River Road Street Fair.
Residents shop local at the Fair Lawn Farmers Market every Wednesday from June to November.
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Crime rates below national figures and a four-season climate
Fair Lawn's overall CAP Index crime score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4. While data from the Fair Lawn Police Department reveals a 22% increase in property-related crime between 2022 and 2023, the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer shows that the borough’s property-related and violent crime rates consistently remain well below national figures. During the same period, Fair Lawn saw a 6% decrease in violent crime.
Residents should expect to see all four seasons, with moderate winters and summers. During periods of heavy rainfall, the Passaic River can cause flooding in the western half of the borough. The 100-year floodplain, where there’s a 1% annual risk of flooding, extends as far east as 3rd Street, although the area typically only floods during significant storm events. In 2024, the borough received Silver Level certification from Sustainable Jersy for its commitment to sustainable environmental initiatives led by the Green Team Advisory Committee.
Gena Miller is an experienced salesperson with extensive knowledge in all things real estate. With an extensive background in sales, AR, contract negotiation, and customer service skills, Gena has a wealth of knowledge that have served her clients well. Her greatest joy is helping clients turn the key to their first home and partnering with other agents on both commercial and industrial transactions. Gena brings passion to her business treating each client as if it were her purchase for her own family. Formerly a sales executive in commercial laundry, Gena is known for her deep customer relationships and strong work ethic. With a focus on the NYC market, Gena has created in-depth relationships with many prominent people in the luxury hotel arena. A Haitian native, born and raised in Les Cayes, Haiti, Gena is currently licensed in both New Jersey and New York. She is a married mother of two girls, and speaks French, Creole, and English. In her free time, Gena loves to travel and cook - and has even published a cookbook.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
