Living in Paramus NJ 🏡 | What to Know Before Moving to Paramus
Living in Paramus NJ can be perfect! The Lenape people lived in the area of Paramus for thousands of years before White settlers arrived in 1662. They formed a small agricultural settlement. Paramus first became prominent during the Revolutionary War, when it was a site for the Continental Army. George Washington briefly established his headquarters in Paramus. Paramus was also home to a community of free Blacks who started moving to Paramus in the 18th century.
In 1909, a golf course was built in the area, attracting more residents. Paramus boomed, becoming a prominent farming and shopping area. Paramus was incorporated as a borough in 1922. "Paramus" is a derivative of Peremessing, a Lenape word that means "the land of wild turkey."
Paramus is now a thriving bedroom community near New York City. It's best known for being a top shopping destination with three top shopping malls: the Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus Park Mall, and Bergen Town Center. Is Paramus NJ a good place to live? Yes, it's a great place to live with ethnic and economic diversity, top public schools, and great services.
Moving to Paramus may make you excited. But before you relocate, you need to figure out more about this special community. Here's what to know about living in Paramus NJ.
Where Is Paramus New Jersey?
Where is Paramus New Jersey, and what county is Paramus NJ in? Paramus is in Bergen County, inside the New York City metropolitan area and North Jersey. It's a suburb of New York City, and it is 21.5 miles from Paramus to New York City. Paramus borders Bergen County cities and towns like Maywood, Rochelle Park, Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Ridgewood, the Township of Washington, Oradell, and River Edge.
Paramus does not contain or border any notable geographic features. Paramus is a well-developed suburb. The malls, stores, and restaurants in the community are located toward the geographic center, with cul-de-sacs to the west and east.
Residents living in Paramus NJ have access to NJ Transit. Several bus routes serve Paramus, with stops located throughout the city; you can use the NJ Transit system map to see where routes and stops are. The Borough of Paramus also provides senior bus transportation to malls, stores, and other locations in the community. The Garden State Parkway and New Jersey State Route 17 run through the community, making moving to Paramus and visiting nearby cities easy.
Paramus Population and Demographics
According to the US Census, the Paramus population in 2020 was 26,698, up by 1.4% since 2010. The population has stayed relatively steady since 1960, hovering around 25,000 people living in Paramus NJ. Paramus is one of the ten largest municipalities in Bergen County. The Paramus population density is 2,556.1 people living in Paramus NJ per square mile, roughly 60% of the population density in the county.
Notable people living in Paramus NJ include Jamie Gold, Stacey Dash, and Bob Menendez. Paramus NJ demographics include:
- 50.1% female, 49.9% male
- Median age of residents living in Paramus NJ: 49.0
- Racial and ethnic composition of people living in Paramus NJ: 62.1% White (56.0% non-Hispanic), 23.9% Asian, 14.3% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% two or more races, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native
- Median household income of residents living in Paramus NJ: $136,824 (roughly 1.4 times higher than the New Jersey median)
- Educational attainment: 94.6% of residents older than 25 living in Paramus NJ have graduated high school, 50.3% have a bachelor's degree
- Foreign-born population of residents living in Paramus NJ: 30.5%
Paramus is a hub for several Asian communities in Paramus. The rate of Asian residents living in Paramus NJ is over twice the rate of Asian residents living in New Jersey. It's also a hub for foreign-born people. Over 1,900 residents living in Paramus NJ were born in Korea, and nearly 1,500 were born in India. It's also one of the wealthiest communities in New Jersey, with 27.8% of households making over $200,000 a year.
Here are the latest crime rates in Paramus, according to the FBI in 2022:
- Overall crime rate: 4,211 offenses per 100,000 residents living in Paramus NJ (96.1% higher than the Newark crime rate, 159.9% higher than the New Jersey crime rate, 81.2% higher than the national average)
- Violent crime rate: 38 crimes per 100,000 people living in Paramus NJ (81.3% lower than the New Jersey rate, 89.7% lower than the national rate)
- Property crime rate: 4,173 offenses per 100,000 people living in Paramus NJ (194.5% higher than the New Jersey rate, 113.5% higher than the national rate)
While Paramus has a higher overall crime rate than the state and national averages, it's still a safe place to live. Most crimes that occur in Paramus take place in shopping malls and stores. People living in Paramus NJ rarely, if ever, experience crimes while living in the community. The Paramus Police Department employs 95 police officers living in Paramus NJ who respond to emergencies in the borough.
Cost of Living in Paramus
It can be hard to find Paramus cost of living statistics. You can use Newark cost of living statistics to make a rough estimate. The Newark cost of living index is 115.5, meaning items in and around Newark cost 15.5% more than the national average. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four living in the Newark metro area would need to earn $117,799 a year.
Child care is the single biggest expense at $1,985 a month, so singles and couples living in Paramus NJ without children can live an affordable lifestyle. Housing is the second-biggest expense at $1,606 a month, so renters can also live affordably.
Paramus real estate can be expensive, though you can get a luxurious home for your money. According to Redfin, houses for sale in Paramus NJ have a median price of $1,140,000 and an average cost per square foot of $493. According to RentCafe, Paramus apartments have an average price of $3,411 a month.
Typical Paramus* Living Expenses
- 12 regular eggs: $4.06
- 1 pound of chicken fillets: $5.30
- 1 pound of tomatoes: $1.87
- 1 gallon of gasoline: $3.44
- Average Paramus* living expenses per month: $118.73
- 1 pair of jeans: $54.50
Source: Numbeo
*Expenses actually for Jersey City
Paramus Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Paramus
Paramus does not have formal neighborhoods, which can make looking for houses for sale in Paramus NJ tricky. You can find homes for sale throughout the community, though most are clustered to the east. Paramus real estate consists primarily of single-family homes for sale, which have a wide variety of architectural styles and features.
Most houses for sale in Paramus NJ are spacious, with at least three bedrooms and often more than five. Most homes were built after 1960, so they contain amenities like hardwood floors, central air conditioning, and attached two-car garages. Prices vary. Some homes cost less than $1 million, while others cost over $2 million, even if they have similar features.
Paramus has a very small market for rentable properties and Paramus apartments. There are no major apartment or condo complexes in the borough. You can occasionally find homes for rent that come on the market. These homes have similar features to houses for sale in Paramus NJ, so you can rent upscale and spacious properties for your family. Browse real estate listings frequently while living in Paramus NJ.
Paramus Weather and Climate
Paramus has a humid continental climate with warm and wet summers and freezing and snowy winters. July is the hottest month of the year, with an average temperature of 76 degrees and an average high of 85. Temperatures undergo a steady decline starting in early August. January is the coldest month of the year, with an average temperature of 30 degrees and an average low of 25. Average lows remain below freezing between early December and early March.
Paramus receives an average of 39.1 inches of rain and 25.5 inches of snow. Rain and snow can be heavy at times, and you can experience severe storms while living in Paramus NJ. The rain in the summertime causes humidity levels, with July and August having at least 10 muggy or oppressive days. You can avoid severe Paramus weather by looking at Paramus weather forecasts and staying inside on humid or cloudy days.
September is the best month to start visiting and moving to Paramus. It's the clearest month, with 63% clear, mostly clear, and partly cloudy days. It has an average temperature of 67 degrees with an average high of 75.
Things to Do in Paramus
There are many kid-friendly and cool things to do in Paramus, including shopping. Paramus has some of the best shopping malls in the United States. Paramus Park contains dozens of upscale stores and unique retailers, as do Bergen Town Center and Westfield Garden State Plaza.
Humdingers
Humdingers is a bowling alley and entertainment complex popular amongst kids, families, and young professionals. Humdingers contains a video arcade, six batting cages, and a laser maze.
64 East Midland Avenue, Paramus, NJ, 07652, 201-701-1900
Catch Air Paramus
Catch Air Paramus is the best kid-friendly destination in Paramus. It contains a three-story play castle with an aquatic theme, interactive toys, laser shows, and other unique features. It's the top point of interest for parties for families, with pizza, ice cream, and goody bags included.
224 Route 4, Paramus, NJ, 07652, 201-620-2125
iFly Indoor Skydiving
iFly Indoor Skydiving is a family-friendly indoor skydiving arena that offers indoor skydives for all residents living in Paramus NJ. iFly has programs for school groups, military members, Boy and Girl Scouts, and people with learning and physical differences.
211 Route 4, Paramus, NJ, 07652, 201-733-4359
Additional Things to Do in Paramus
The Paramus Recreation Commission takes care of all parks and public spaces in Paramus. The commission plans special events throughout the year, including holiday celebrations and parades. You can use the Paramus events calendar to see when these events take place.
Paramus Restaurants
The Newark and New York City metro areas contain some of the best restaurants, with influences from all over the world. Paramus also contains diverse and delicious restaurants, including great Caribbean food and upscale Paramus restaurants.
Bahama Breeze
Bahama Breeze is a casual, kid-friendly Caribbean restaurant with great seafood, chicken, and vegetarian dishes. It's also a top spot for happy hour, serving a range of drinks and appetizers at half price.
1600 Bergen Town Center, Paramus, NJ, 07652, 201-368-5860
Bonefish Grill
Bonefish Grill is a seafood restaurant and grill with lunch, dinner, and brunch menus, making it a great place to visit throughout the week. The grill offers family bundles with enough entrees and sides for your entire family, so you can save money on dinner.
601 From Road, Paramus, NJ, 07652, 201-261-2355
Seasons 52
Seasons 52 is the best restaurant in Paramus for a date or a romantic night out. It offers seasonal American dishes like crab cakes, ahi tuna, and Idaho rainbow trout. You can enjoy many different red and white wines with your entrees, making it a great restaurant for repeated visits while living in Paramus NJ.
1 Garden State Plaza Parkway Suite A14, Paramus, NJ, 07652, 201-518-1074
Jobs in Paramus NJ
12,194 people have jobs in Paramus NJ, up by 1.6% since 2013. Healthcare is the biggest job sector in Paramus, with median earnings of nearly $200,000 a year. Retail trade is the second-biggest job sector in Paramus, with median earnings of over $50,000 a year. Roughly one-sixth of people living in Paramus NJ work in management jobs that pay over $200,000 a year.
According to Payscale, Paramus jobs have an average base salary of $80,000 a year and an average base hourly rate of $21.67. Major employers in Paramus include Coach USA, New Bridge Medical Center, and Suez Water. You can use Indeed to look for Paramus jobs, and you can apply for Borough of Paramus jobs on the borough's website. All residents living in Paramus NJ can apply for Paramus Borough jobs.
Paramus Schools
Paramus School District is the public school district serving all students living in Paramus NJ. Paramus School District contains seven elementary schools, three of which US News ranks in the top 300 elementary schools in New Jersey. 62% of students at Midland Elementary School test at or above the proficiency level in reading, 17 percentage points higher than the state rate.
Paramus School District also contains two middle schools, both of which US News ranks in the top 250 middle schools in the state. West Brook Middle School and East Brook Middle School are both diverse schools, with over 50% of students in each school identifying as at least one ethnic or racial minority.
Paramus High School is the only high school in the district. US News ranks it in the top 150 high schools in New Jersey. The school is home to 26 AP classes and over 65 extracurricular clubs.
Paramus has a few private schools, including the Frisch School, a top Orthodox Jewish private school. Bergen Community College has a campus in Paramus. Bergen Community College is one of the top providers of associate degrees in New Jersey, and it's home to over 120 different programs. Paramus Public Library is the main public library serving all residents living in Paramus NJ.
Paramus Statistics and Information
- County: Bergen County
- Paramus area: 10.51 square miles
- Paramus zip code: 07652 and 07653
- Paramus area code: 201 and 551
- Paramus elevation: 49 feet
- Paramus time zone: Eastern Time Zone (UTC -4 and -5)
- Closest airport to Paramus: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), 24.5 miles from Paramus
Paramus NJ Map
You can find great things to do, restaurants in Paramus, and educational institutions for your whole life using this Paramus NJ map.
Living in Paramus NJ is perfect for families, entrepreneurs, and retirees! You can enjoy some of the best public schools, shopping malls, and restaurants in the country.
Moving to Paramus doesn't have to be difficult. Harrington Movers's team of Paramus movers has performed efficient and expert moves for over 25 years. Call 973-313-2246 for a free estimate today.
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