110 Ridgewood, 2 Paramus, NJ 07652

Paramus is often thought of as shopping central, and with three major malls, it’s certainly no slouch for retail therapy. But the city’s strong commercial revenue — more than $6 billion in retail sales annually, more than any other zip code in the country — also means that Paramus has another valuable distinction: It’s home to one of Bergen County’s lowest property tax rates. This combination of convenience and value makes Paramus a popular place to live and it’s one of the bigger and busier boroughs in the area. Though in many ways Paramus is the quintessential suburb, it’s quite a bit more bustling than some of its more rural neighbors and serves as the central shopping hub for the surrounding region. For commuters into New York City, there’s a New Jersey Transit express bus to Port Authority, as well as several private minibuses that run along Route 4.