Living in Cresskill
Top-Ranked Own K–12 District.
30 Minutes to NYC. Palisades Lifestyle.
Everything you need to know before making Cresskill, NJ home.
Cresskill takes its name from the Dutch — cress (the watercress that once blanketed its streams) and kill (the Dutch word for stream) — a small etymological reminder that this 2.14-square-mile borough has been rooted in something genuine since before the Revolution. Today it is a dense suburban borough of roughly 9,400 residents in northern Bergen County, bordering Tenafly, Demarest, and Bergenfield, with one of the most highly educated and internationally diverse populations in the state. NeighborhoodScout places Cresskill among the top communities nationally for concentration of artists, designers, tech workers, and "urban sophisticates" — people who happen to want a backyard and a top-ranked school district.
That school district is the borough's headline: Cresskill runs its own K–12 public school system with Cresskill High School consistently ranking among the top 33–141 schools in New Jersey over the past decade. The median sale price is approximately $1.3M, the average tax bill is one of the lower dollar-amount bills in Bergen County for this price range, and NJ Transit bus service puts Manhattan roughly 30 minutes away. The borough is growing, appreciated, and consistently oversubscribed by families who find Tenafly too expensive and want their own in-borough high school.
Commute & Connectivity
Getting There From Here
Cresskill commuters primarily take NJ Transit bus to Manhattan, with the GWB and Palisades Interstate Parkway providing excellent car access — and the Bronx literally 8 miles away.
Public Schools
Education That Raises Property Values
Cresskill runs its own K–12 district — ranked 4-star with Cresskill High School placing among NJ's top 33–141 high schools, 80%+ ELA proficiency, and 90%+ graduation rates.
| School | Grades | Type | Student:Teacher | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cresskill Elementary Schools Cresskill Public Schools · K–6 |
K – 6 | Public | 12 : 1 | B+ |
| Cresskill Middle School Cresskill Public Schools · 7–8 |
7 – 8 | Public | 12 : 1 | B+ |
| Cresskill High School 1 Lincoln Dr · 478 students · top 33–141 in NJ |
9 – 12 | Public | 12 : 1 | A |
Cresskill HS ranked #111 of 426 NJ high schools (SchoolDigger); peaked at #33 in 2020–21. District ranked #121 of 613 NJ districts; 4-star rating. 80%+ ELA proficiency; 90%+ graduation rate; <1.2% dropout rate. Bergen County Academies also eligible.
Neighborhood Life
What Makes Cresskill Cresskill
Explore the restaurants, parks, nature centers, and community culture of Bergen County's most internationally sophisticated small borough.
By the Numbers
Cresskill at a Glance
Explore the Area
Similar Towns Near Cresskill
Buyers considering Cresskill often explore these nearby Bergen County communities — each with its own school profile, price point, and character.
Featured Listings
Common Questions
Cresskill, NJ — Frequently Asked Questions
Real answers about buying, selling, taxes, schools, and daily life in Cresskill — Bergen County's most internationally diverse small borough with its own top-ranked K–12 district.


