Where's the richest town in New Jersey? Just look in the North Jersey suburbs

The Garden State is an eclectic national treasure that's steeped in lush farmlands and abundant wildlife, vibrant cities rich in culture and miles of sandy coastline, so by all accounts, it's already rich in many ways.

But what town really is the wealthiest in the state? You may, or may not, be surprised by the answer. Stacker, an online content distribution platform, analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey over a five-year span as of August 2024 and determined the richest towns in each of the 50 states. The publication ranked the cities using median household income, percentage of people unemployed, families below the poverty level and more.

So, what town do you think it is? Find out below.

The richest town in New Jersey? Take a peek at the serene suburb

With small town charm and easy access to New York City, Ho-Ho-Kus, a tiny but mighty borough in Bergen County with a population of about 4,200, is considered the richest in the state. The borough boasts a median household income of more than $250,000 — nearly 233% greater than the United States median income of $75,149, according to the Census data. The Census caps income at $250,000.

The number of families with income below poverty level is 0% in the borough, compared to a nationwide rate of 12.5%, Census data shows. In New Jersey, 9.7% of households bring in income that is considered below the poverty threshold.

The most recent U.S. Census data from 2024 , using the Census' annual social and economic supplement, shows the poverty threshold for a family of four with two children under the age of 18 is $30,900. For an individual, the poverty threshold is $15,480.

The median earnings for a male worker living in Ho-Ho-Kus is $250,000, with women earning on average $105,769, Stacker states. Only 2% of the population is unemployed, and all have health insurance, the data shows.

Why does Ho-Ho-Kus stand out among other New Jersey towns?

With all households having insurance and all living above the poverty threshold, with an average household income surpassing $250,000, Ho-Ho-Kus reaches the top of the list due to its ability to "provide a small-town getaway without sacrificing the economic benefits and amenities of a big city," Stacker says in their report.

Just 20 miles outside the Big Apple, the affluent community is bisected by Route 17 and nestled between the larger borough of Saddle River to the north and the village of Ridgewood to the south. It sits within 1.7 square miles filled with stately homes and a picturesque downtown.

The borough's website boasts that the municipality is "among the lowest tax rates in Bergen County and the highest bond rating for a community our size." New Jersey Monthly magazine has twice named the hamlet as the "Best Place to Live in New Jersey," although Ho-Ho-Kus dropped significantly in 2019, the last year the magazine seemingly held their "Top Towns" rankings, after taxes and home prices jumped by around 5%.

The borough's median sale price for a home was $1.1 million, with 10 homes currently on the market with asking prices between $1.2 million to $3.7 million, according to Realtor.com .

Ho-Ho-Kus, a name with over 16 definitions through Indigenous origins, contains several historic landmarks, including an 18th century private residence that now serves as the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern (once a President Richard Nixon haunt). The borough also has another historic residence, now a museum, called The Hermitage, which hosted George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, the Marquis de La Fayette, James Monroe, and Aaron Burr during the Revolutionary War.

Famous names from Ho-Ho-Kus

Chloe Troast, 27, who landed a spot on the 49th season of the iconic "Saturday Night Live" last fall, might have been let go from the show , but the Ho-Ho-Kus native and comedian has nearly 64,000 followers on Instagram and even had the support of fellow castmates, including returning SNL star Marcello Hernández and Grammy-winning hip hop star Chance the Rapper, who shared well wishes.

Other notable Ho-Ho-Kus residents include two since-retired NFL all-stars: Dan Reeves and Jim Fassel. While he wasn't raised in the borough, Reeves, who played for the Dallas Cowboys for eight seasons, lived in Ho-Ho-Kus with his family while he coached the New York Giants from 1993 to 1996. Reeves died from complications of dementia while home in Atlantic on Jan. 1, 2022 at the age of 77.

Ironically, Fassel was Reeves' replacement as head coach of the New York Giants when Reeves left in 1996 — and both men moved their families to Ho-Ho-Kus when they got their respective coaching gigs. Fassel coached the Giants until 2003 and later was offensive coordinator of other NFL teams. In 2001, The New York Times reported Fassel, who was residing in the borough with wife, Kitty, had just secured a four-year, $10.75 million renewal contract as head coach of the Giants and had plans to do some work on the home had built in the borough. Fassel died of a heart attack on June 7, 2021 in Las Vegas, at the age of 71.

You may not have heard the name Robert Thomas Sawyer, but you probably should know who he is. Sawyer, who spent most of his life in Ho-Ho-Kus, was the inventor of the first successful gas turbine locomotive, and while working at General Electric, he helped assemble and deliver the first diesel locomotive sold in the United States while working for General Electric.

This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.

Email: lcomstock@njherald.com ; Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH or on Facebook .

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Where's the richest town in New Jersey? Just look in the North Jersey suburbs