Alpine is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, approximately north of Midtown Manhattan. It is the easternmost town in New Jersey.

As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,762, a decrease of 87 (−4.7%) from the 2010 census count of 1,849, which in turn reflected a decline of 334 (−15.3%) from the 2,183 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.

In 2012, Forbes ranked Alpine as America's most expensive ZIP Code with a median home price of $4.25 million.Brennan, Morgan. "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", Forbes, October 12, 2011. Accessed June 25, 2012. "It comes in behind two ZIP Codes that regularly grace the top spots of our list: Alpine, N.J., 07620, at No. 1, and Atherton, Calif., 94027, at No. 2. Alpine is an exclusive New York City suburb where the median home price is $4,295,000, street addresses are regularly scrambled on Google and the residents include celebrities like Stevie Wonder and Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs." It was ranked 4th in the magazine's 2010 listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $3,814,885.Staff. "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes: In these neighborhoods $4 million homes are the norm.", Forbes, September 27, 2010. Accessed July 29, 2011. In 2009, Forbes ranked Alpine first, along with Greenwich, Connecticut, with a median home price of $4.14 million.America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes, Forbes. Accessed September 1, 2009. Alpine was tied with Greenwich for first in both 2006 and 2007 on the ABC News list of most expensive ZIP Codes, with a median home sale price of $3.4 million."What's the Toniest Town in America?", ABC News. Accessed September 15, 2007.Woolsey, Matt. "Priciest ZIP Code? It's not 90210" , Forbes. Accessed November 15, 2007. In 2019, PropertyShark ranked Alpine as the 53rd most expensive ZIP Code in the country with a median sales price of $1,785,000, a drop from a ranking of 33rd nationwide in 2018 due to a decline of 19% in sales prices.Top Most Expensive U.S. Zip Codes in 2019, PropertyShark, November 18, 2019. Accessed December 14, 2019. "The Mid-Atlantic’s priciest zip was 07620 in Alpine, NJ, which ranked #53 nationally with a $1,785,000 median sale price. The Bergen County zip was down 20 positions compared to last year as its median contracted 19%." Based on data from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey, the borough had a per-capita income of $107,604, ranked second in the state.Median Household, Family, Per-Capita Income: State, County, Municipality and Census Designated Place (CDP) With Municipalities Ranked by Per Capita Income; 2010 5-year ACS estimates (Excel Format), New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed August 22, 2023.

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Alpine as its 15th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey."Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100" , New Jersey Monthly, February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008.

Alpine was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1903, from portions of Harrington Township. The borough acquired a portion of Cresskill in 1904.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 75. Accessed May 1, 2026.History of Bergen County p. 336 shows April 13, 1903, as date of formation. The borough's name came from the wife of journalist Charles Nordhoff, who found the setting reminiscent of the Swiss Alps.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 26, 2015.

Geography

The borough has a total area of 9.22 square miles (23.89 km2), including 6.40 square miles (16.58 km2) of land and 2.82 square miles (7.31 km2) of water (30.61%).

The borough borders Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Norwood, Rockleigh and Tenafly in Bergen County. Across the Hudson River, the borough borders The Bronx in New York City, and in Westchester County the city of Yonkers and the village of Hastings-on-Hudson (within the town of Greenburgh). North of the New York State border, the borough borders the hamlet of Tappan (in the town of Orangetown) in Rockland County.Areas touching Alpine, MapIt. Accessed March 17, 2020.Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2020 census +Alpine borough, Bergen County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)1,6471,19794975.45%64.74%53.86%Black or African American alone (NH)3344541.51%2.38%3.06%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)5100.23%0.05%0.00%Asian alone (NH)41648259319.06%26.07%33.65%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)1000.05%0.00%0.00%Other race alone (NH)0150.00%0.05%0.28%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)2635401.19%1.89%2.27%Hispanic or Latino (any race)55891212.52%4.81%6.87%Total2,1831,8491,762 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 1,849 people, 611 households, and 529 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 670 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 68.14% (1,260) White, 2.38% (44) Black or African American, 0.05% (1) Native American, 26.07% (482) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.30% (24) from other races, and 2.06% (38) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.81% (89) of the population.

Of the 611 households, 32.9% had children under the age of 18; 73.8% were married couples living together; 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 13.4% were non-families. Of all households, 11.8% were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.24.

22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 16.0% from 25 to 44, 36.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 101.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $172,054 (with a margin of error of +/− $23,256) and the median family income was $192,188 (+/− $56,076). Males had a median income of $124,375 (+/− $28,708) versus $56,719 (+/− $21,358) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $107,604 (+/− $18,758). About 2.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 24, 2012.

Same-sex couples headed four households in 2010, down from the eight counted in the 2000 Census.Lipman, Harvy; and Sheingold, Dave. "North Jersey sees 30% growth in same-sex couples", The Record, August 14, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 3, 2013. Accessed August 23, 2014.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,183 people, 708 households, and 623 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 730 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 77.37% White, 1.51% African American, 0.23% Native American, 19.10% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.52% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Alpine borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 24, 2012., United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 24, 2012.

There were 708 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 79.8% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.0% were non-families. 9.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 34.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $130,740, and the median income for a family was $134,068. Males had a median income of $87,544 versus $45,536 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $76,995. 6.2% of the population and 5.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 8.5% were under the age of 18 and 6.4% were 65 or older.

Government

Local government Alpine is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 165.

The borough form of government used by Alpine is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.