If you are thinking about buying in Allendale, one big question comes up fast: which part of town fits the way you want to live? In a small borough with a limited number of homes for sale, your decision often comes down to trade-offs like walkability versus yard space, older charm versus newer updates, and single-family living versus lower-maintenance options. This guide will help you understand how Allendale’s residential pockets and home styles compare, so you can narrow your search with more confidence. Let’s dive in.
Why Allendale Feels Different
Allendale is a small Bergen County borough of about three square miles with 6,817 residents, and it is predominantly residential. According to the borough’s history and heritage overview, single-family land use covers 56.98% of total acreage, while multifamily housing makes up only 0.84%.
That matters when you start your search. In practical terms, most buyers in Allendale will be looking at detached homes, with only a small number of condo or townhouse opportunities. The borough’s 2025 master plan also describes Allendale as nearly built out, which helps explain why inventory can feel limited and why each neighborhood pocket has a distinct feel.
What Buyers Can Expect on Price
Recent market snapshots put Allendale around the $1 million mark. Redfin’s Allendale housing market data reported a January 2026 median sale price of $1.14M and average days on market of 83, while Zillow’s local home value data showed a typical home value of $1,043,665 on February 28, 2026.
That does not mean every home looks the same or appeals to the same buyer. In Allendale, price is closely tied to lot size, age, location within town, and whether you are buying a detached house or a lower-maintenance townhome or condo-style property.
Historic Core Near Downtown
The historic core centers around streets like Park Avenue, Mallinson Street, First Street, Brookside Avenue, and Allendale Avenue. The borough notes that early development grew around these streets, and the business district later formed along West Allendale Avenue near the railroad station.
If you want to be closer to shops, restaurants, and transit, this is the clearest area to focus on. NJ Transit’s Allendale Station page places the station at West Allendale and Orchard, one block from Franklin Turnpike, which makes this pocket especially useful for buyers who value a train-friendly location.
Homes here often reflect Allendale’s older housing stock. Recent examples include 150 W Orchard St, a 1925 Craftsman cottage that sold for $545,000, 57 Ivers Rd, a 1925 colonial on 7,492 square feet that sold for $855,000, 131 Elmwood Ave, a 1952 colonial on 0.25 acres that sold for $989,380, and 110 Mallinson St, a 1904 farmhouse colonial on 0.34 acres that sold for $1.438M.
For many buyers, the appeal is clear. You may find older architectural character, a more established streetscape, and easier access to the downtown core. In exchange, lots are often smaller, and homes may offer more renovation or updating potential than properties farther from the center of town.
Who this area may suit
This part of Allendale may appeal to you if you want:
- A location closer to downtown conveniences
- Easier access to the train station
- Older homes with character
- Smaller lots and potentially more manageable outdoor space
- A property where updates could add personal value over time
Townhomes and Condos Near Crestwood Mews
If you want Allendale but prefer less exterior upkeep, the most obvious pocket to explore is around Crestwood Mews and Elm Street. The borough’s 2025 master plan identifies a BU district on Crestwood Mews and Myrtle Avenue northwest of the central business district and notes 24 condominium units there.
This is one of the clearest lower-maintenance options in town. Recent sales included 6 Crestwood Mews at $556,000 in September 2025 and 86 Elm St at $710,000 in February 2025, both marketed as being minutes from downtown Allendale, shops, restaurants, and the train.
That makes this pocket worth a close look if you want the convenience of Allendale without the scale of a larger detached home. You do give up yard size and some of the privacy that often comes with single-family living, but you may gain a simpler day-to-day ownership experience and a price point that can be more approachable than many detached houses in town.
What to keep in mind
Townhome or condo-style living here can be a good fit if you want:
- Lower exterior maintenance
- A location near downtown and transit
- A smaller footprint to manage
- An entry point into Allendale that differs from the detached-home market
Larger Lots and Quiet Streets
If your priority is more land, more privacy, or a larger house, the outer residential streets may be a better match. Allendale’s zoning reinforces that pattern. The borough’s master plan sets minimum lot areas of 20,000 square feet in the A zone, 26,000 square feet in AA, and 40,000 square feet in AAA.
You can see that larger-lot pattern in recent sales. Examples include 12 Colonial Dr, which sold for $999,999 on 0.64 acres, 16 Heights Rd, a newly built colonial that sold for $1.56M, and 22 Pine Rd, which sold for $1.675M on 0.64 acres. On West Crescent, 128 W Crescent sold for $1.25M on 0.92 acres, while 856 W Crescent sold for $1.575M on 1.6 acres.
This part of Allendale often appeals to buyers who are willing to trade a shorter trip to town for more space. You may find larger yards, quieter cul-de-sacs, and homes with bigger floor plans, but you will usually depend more on a car for daily errands and station access.
Why buyers choose these streets
You may prefer these areas if your search is centered on:
- Larger lots
- More privacy between homes
- Bigger homes and floor plans
- A quieter residential setting
- Sporadic newer construction opportunities
East Allendale and the Borough Edge
East Allendale offers a slightly different context. The borough’s master plan states that south of East Allendale Avenue remains low-density single-family housing, while north of East Allendale Avenue on Boroline Road there is a planned unit development with 76 affordable townhouses, an assisted-living facility, and an office building.
For buyers, that means this edge of town can feel more mixed in land use than the interior single-family streets. If you are considering this area, it helps to look carefully at the immediate surroundings of any listing so you understand how the home’s location fits your lifestyle and preferences.
Common Home Styles in Allendale
Allendale’s housing stock leans older, and that shows up in the mix of home styles. The borough’s master plan reports that about 20% of housing units were built before 1939, more than 40% before 1960, and less than 10% since 2000.
On the ground, colonials are the most common style buyers are likely to see. You will also encounter capes, split levels, Craftsman cottages, farmhouse-style older homes, and a limited number of townhomes and condos.
Because much of the borough is already built out, newer construction tends to appear as occasional infill rather than large, newly created subdivisions. The report points to homes like 65 New St, listed as new construction on 0.37 acres, and 16 Heights Rd, described as a newly built colonial.
How lot size changes the feel
Lot size is one of the biggest differences between one Allendale pocket and another. In the central streets, you may see parcels around 7,492 square feet or about a quarter-acre. In larger-lot sections of town, homes often sit on 0.64 acres or more.
That affects more than yard size. It can also shape privacy, house placement, expansion potential, and how much ongoing outdoor maintenance you want to take on.
Schools, Transit, and Everyday Living
For many buyers, neighborhood choice in Allendale is less about school assignment and more about lifestyle preference. The borough’s education page says the public-school path is borough-wide: Hillside School for pre-K through grade 3, Brookside School for grades 4 through 8, and Northern Highlands Regional High School for Allendale and three surrounding communities.
That shared school path means your home search inside Allendale is often more about location, home style, and lot size. Instead of choosing between different attendance zones within the borough, buyers are usually comparing convenience, house type, and setting.
Transit is another major factor. NJ Transit’s station information confirms that Allendale Station is an in-town stop on the Main-Bergen County Line and offers multiple permit or daily parking lots.
For recreation and outdoor time, Allendale also has some notable local amenities. The borough says Crestwood Lake is a 71-acre municipal facility with a lake, three beaches, sports fields, and the Red Barn, though membership is required because it is a private lake. The Celery Farm is another key local amenity, offering a 107-acre freshwater wetland open year-round during daylight hours.
How to Choose the Right Pocket
The clearest Allendale trade-off is convenience versus space. Homes near downtown and the station can offer easier access to shops, restaurants, and commuting options, but they are often older and sit on smaller lots. Homes on outer streets and cul-de-sacs tend to offer more privacy, larger yards, and more interior space, but usually with less walkability.
Townhome pockets like Crestwood Mews and Elm Street sit in the middle of that decision. They can reduce maintenance and keep you close to the center of town, but they do not offer the same yard size or detached-home feel as larger single-family properties.
A smart way to narrow your search is to rank your priorities before you start touring homes. Ask yourself:
- Do you want to be closer to the train and downtown?
- Are you comfortable taking on updates in an older home?
- How much yard do you really want to maintain?
- Would a townhome or condo-style option make daily life easier?
- Is privacy more important to you than walkability?
When you answer those questions clearly, the right part of Allendale usually starts to come into focus.
If you want help matching your budget, commute, and home-style preferences to the right part of town, Doreen Darquea can help you make sense of the options and move forward with confidence.
FAQs
What kinds of homes are most common in Allendale?
- Allendale is mostly made up of detached single-family homes, with colonials being the most common style, along with capes, split levels, Craftsman cottages, and a limited number of townhomes and condos.
Which part of Allendale is closest to downtown and the train station?
- The historic core near Park Avenue, Mallinson Street, Brookside Avenue, Allendale Avenue, and nearby streets around Allendale Station is the clearest option for buyers who want closer access to downtown and NJ Transit.
Are there low-maintenance housing options in Allendale?
- Yes. The Crestwood Mews and Elm Street area is one of the clearest lower-maintenance pockets in town, with condo and townhome-style housing near downtown amenities and the train.
Do neighborhoods in Allendale have different public-school assignments?
- No. The borough-wide public-school path serves Allendale residents through Hillside School, Brookside School, and Northern Highlands Regional High School, so buyers often focus more on home style, lot size, and location within town.
Are larger lots easier to find in certain parts of Allendale?
- Yes. Larger lots are more common on outer residential streets and quieter cul-de-sacs, where recent sales show parcels around 0.64 acres and above, compared with smaller central lots closer to downtown.
Is new construction common in Allendale?
- No. Based on the borough’s built-out character and recent sales examples, new construction appears to be occasional infill rather than large-scale subdivision development.
