Meryl Streep’s Hometown Is One of the Hottest ZIP Codes in the Country—Here’s Why

by Julie Gerstein

What town is an hour’s drive from the crowds of Times Square yet seems like a peaceful world away?

The ZIP code that ranked fourth on the Realtor.com® Hottest ZIP Codes in America list—07920 in Basking Ridge, NJ—was once home to perennial Oscar winner Meryl Streep, who graduated from the local high school in 1967.

Nowadays, the wealthy exurb of around 25,000 people located in Bernards Township wins points from residents for its deep sense of community.

That’s just one of the many reasons it’s among the most popular markets in the country.

Homebuyers are attracted to the area’s “beautiful greenery, larger yards, and timeless home styles,” says Marie Young, a Coldwell Banker real estate agent who lives there.

Indeed, buyers love Basking Ridge so much that homes stay on the market for only an average of 16 days, far below the current national average of 53 in August.

Here’s everything you need to know about this charming and historic community—and why buyers are so drawn to the area.

The location of Basking Ridge

Getting out of the city—New York City, that is—is a must for many Manhattanites at some point in their lives.

It’s not just the people who live there who make the area of Basking Ridge so desirable. It’s also its close proximity to New York City and Newark, NJ—just 40 miles from both—making it ideal for commuters.

Properties in the 07920 ZIP code were so sought after that they attracted 3.5 times as many views per listing from January through June 2024 compared with the U.S. median.

The hottest ZIP codes list was compiled by analyzing housing market supply and demand using Realtor.com listing data from January to June 2023. The economic research team assessed the number of views each listing received and the speed at which homes were sold. The list was limited to just one ZIP code per metropolitan area to keep things competitive.

Basking Ridge is a tight market

Basking Ridge might be charming, but it’s not cheap. The median home price is $995,500, more than double August’s national median of $439,950.

But that may pay off spacewise.

“The median listing price per square foot in Basking Ridge was 33.6% below the surrounding metro’s average in June, meaning buyers could get more bang for their buck in the ZIP than was common in the area,” says Realtor.com senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones.

That square-footage savings has drawn plenty of interest from buyers, and as a result, homes are selling on average at 4.34% above the asking price.

Yet the New Jersey town is still considered a buyer’s market because there are more homes available for sale than there are home shoppers.

The median home price in Basking Ridge is $995,500, more than double the national median of $445,000. This four-bedroom Colonial, built in 2011, is listed at $2,400,000.
Realtor.com

Your money will go further

Although the cost of housing is much higher than in other places on the hottest ZIP codes list, it’s affordable compared with nearby markets like New York City and Hoboken, NJ. The median price of homes there are $915,000 and $837,500, respectively, but they’re generally smaller.

Indeed, the average home in Basking Ridge is around 3,000 square feet, nearly twice the average of surrounding neighborhoods, says Jones.

But it’s a tough market to get into: Basking Ridge has a high level of homeownership–more than 70% of residents own their properties—which makes the housing market tighter than most.

The community vibes are safe and strong

Basking Ridge is ranked the second-safest city in New Jersey and has had zero violent crime in the past year.
Getty Images

Basking Ridge offers many neighborhoods with sidewalks, mature trees, and a strong sense of community, says Young, who considers that last virtue to be one of the best things about the town.

“We’ve all been through many challenges, and everyone is there to help while respecting others’ privacy,” she adds.

That might also be why it’s so safe. Basking Ridge is ranked the second-safest city in New Jersey and has had zero violent crime in the past year.

It’s full of history and great for families

Basking Ridge was settled around 1717 as part of Bernards Township. The area’s history dates back even earlier, with the Lenape Native Americans inhabiting the region before European settlers arrived.

Today, Basking Ridge has some of the highest-rated schools in the state, and there are many local activities to keep kids busy.

“There’s a town pool and a quaint downtown with some wonderful restaurants and shops,” adds Young.

The town is bordered on one side by the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, a 12-square-mile nature park with over 8 miles of trails, and the Raptor Trust, a bird rescue center. Residents are also just a short drive away from the skiing and snowboarding paradise of the Poconos and an hour from the Jersey Shore.

The Brick Academy, built in 1809, is recognized by both the state and national Registers of Historic Places.
Creative Commons

Basking Ridge also has several sites on the National Register of Historic Places, including its Presbyterian church, which dates to 1839, its train station, and several local farms.

Ready to start looking at homes in Basking Ridge? Check out these listings below.