Norwood is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 5,641, a decrease of 70 (−1.2%) from the 2010 census count of 5,711, which in turn reflected a decline of 40 (−0.7%) from the 5,751 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.

Norwood was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 14, 1905, from portions of Harrington Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 82. Accessed May 30, 2024.

History The territory that became present-day Norwood was originally settled about 1686 by a dozen or more families mostly from the Dutch Republic, who purchased the land under the Tappan Patent. About that time a grant was also given by Philip Carteret, Governor of the Province of East Jersey, during the reign of King Charles II of England. The Lenape, a Native American tribe, roamed the valley.The Story of Norwood, Borough of Norwood. Accessed February 21, 2007.

The name Norwood emanated from the old description of its location in the "North-Woods".Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 11, 2015. It was a part of Harrington Township, which was formed in 1775 from the northernmost portions of Hackensack Township and New Barbadoes Township, stretching from the Hudson River in the east to the Saddle River in the west.

In 1840, the portions of Harrington Township west of the Hackensack River were taken away to create Washington Township. At that point, Harrington Township was somewhat in the form of a square measuring about on each side, bounded on the north by Rockland County, New York; east by the Hudson River, south by Hackensack Township and west by the Hackensack River. At that time, Norwood, Northvale (once called Neuvy), Old Tappan, Demarest, Closter, and Harrington Park were communities within Harrington Township.

On March 14, 1905, Norwood seceded from its parent Harrington Township and was incorporated as an independent borough.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 208. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 11, 2015.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.79 square miles (7.24 km2), including 2.79 square miles (7.21 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (0.32%).

Norwood is in the northeastern part of New Jersey, about from the New York state line. It is bordered by the Bergen County municipalities of Alpine, Closter, Harrington Park, Northvale, Old Tappan and Rockleigh.Areas touching Norwood, MapIt. Accessed March 1, 2020.Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names within the borough include West Norwood.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 7, 2015.

As of 2026, the borough is a member of Local Leaders for Responsible Planning in order to address the borough's Mount Laurel doctrine-based housing obligations.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Norwood borough, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)4,3563,7663,19675.74%65.94%56.66%Black or African American alone (NH)4864740.83%1.12%1.31%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)0040.00%0.00%0.07%Asian alone (NH)1,0921,5511,80918.99%27.16%32.07%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)0100.00%0.02%0.00%Other race alone (NH)161480.28%0.25%0.14%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)67551321.17%0.96%2.34%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1722604182.99%4.55%7.41%Total5,7515,7115,641 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Norwood had a population of 5,641. The median age was 47.0 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.4 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,943 households in Norwood, of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 67.2% were married-couple households, 9.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 2,032 housing units, of which 4.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 5,711 people, 1,927 households, and 1,542 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,007 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 69.25% (3,955) White, 1.37% (78) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 27.18% (1,552) Asian, 0.02% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.03% (59) from other races, and 1.16% (66) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.55% (260) of the population. Korean Americans accounted for 20.1% of the population.

Of the 1,927 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18; 67.8% were married couples living together; 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.0% were non-families. Of all households, 18.2% were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.23. Same-sex couples headed 7 households in 2010, an increase from the 6 counted in 2000.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 October 14, 2014.

23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 88.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 85.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $102,132 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,413) and the median family income was $107,356 (+/− $10,538). Males had a median income of $80,837 (+/− $8,419) versus $56,429 (+/− $15,763) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,755 (+/− $5,524). About 0.6% of families and 1.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.9% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Norwood borough, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 10, 2013.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,751 people, 1,857 households, and 1,563 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,888 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 77.86% Caucasian, 18.99% Asian, 0.83% African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.94% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.99% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Norwood borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 10, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Norwood borough, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 10, 2013.

As of the 2000 Census, 12.69% of Norwood's residents identified themselves as being of Korean ancestry, which was the eighth highest in the United States and sixth highest of any municipality in New Jersey, for all places with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.Korean Communities , EPodunk. Accessed December 10, 2007.

There were 1,857 households, out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.8% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.8% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $92,447, and the median income for a family was $100,329. Males had a median income of $70,000 versus $37,059 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,039. About 2.3% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over. Government

Local government