Bergen County · Meadowlands · Sports · Entertainment · Residential Community

East Rutherford, New Jersey

East Rutherford is one of New Jersey's most unusual boroughs: an established residential community and traditional business town that also contains a globally recognized sports, shopping and entertainment district in the Meadowlands.

Neighborhood streets, schools, parks and local businesses sit only minutes from MetLife Stadium, American Dream and major regional transportation routes. In July 2026, MetLife Stadium hosted the FIFA World Cup Final, adding another chapter to East Rutherford's long history as a major event destination.

East Rutherford at a glance

The borough combines a residential population of just over ten thousand with commercial and visitor activity far larger than its population would suggest.

+5.4%Population change2020 base to 2025 estimate · U.S. Census
35.4%Owner occupied2020–2024 Census estimate
$571.7MRetail sales2022 Census business data
$228.8MFood & lodging sales2022 accommodation & food services
Residential East Rutherford

Compact neighborhoods, public schools, parks, library services and a traditional local-business core.

Route 17 & commercial corridors

Retail, services, offices, restaurants, hotels and transportation-oriented businesses along major regional roads.

The Meadowlands

MetLife Stadium, American Dream, event transportation and one of the state's largest concentrations of sports and entertainment activity.

From Boiling Springs to the Meadowlands

1800sBoiling Springs Township

The area developed around transportation, industry and communities along the lower Passaic and Meadowlands region.

1894East Rutherford incorporated

The borough was created during Bergen County's late-19th-century wave of municipal incorporation.

1900sIndustry & transportation

Railroads, Route 17 and regional manufacturing helped shape the borough's economy and growth.

TodayRegional destination

Sports, retail, entertainment, hospitality and major events now share the borough with its residential neighborhoods.

MetLife Stadium, American Dream & the Meadowlands

East Rutherford's Meadowlands district places the borough on an international stage. MetLife Stadium is home to the New York Giants and New York Jets and hosted eight FIFA World Cup matches in 2026, including the Final on July 19. Nearby American Dream combines millions of square feet of retail, dining and indoor attractions.

MetLife Stadium

An 82,500-seat stadium hosting NFL football, concerts, international soccer and major special events.

American Dream

A massive retail, dining and entertainment destination with hundreds of stores and numerous indoor attractions.

Year-round attractions

Indoor water park, theme park, skiing and snowboarding, observation wheel, aquarium, mini golf and other destination experiences.

Event-day planning: traffic patterns, parking access and transit operations can change for major stadium and American Dream events. Check current venue and NJ Transit information before traveling.

Parks, sports & recreation

East Rutherford's municipal recreation system serves residents away from the large Meadowlands venues.

Joseph W. Sesselman Park

Walking paths, gazebos, benches, memorial features and a stage used for community activities.

Riggin Memorial Field

Synthetic track and multipurpose athletic fields supporting football, baseball, soccer and recreation programs.

McKenzie Field & Playground

Softball, tennis, soccer, basketball and neighborhood recreation facilities.

Additional neighborhood parks

Gerald Kohler/Ann Street Park, Memorial/Fireman's Park, Carlton Linear Park, St. Joseph's Park, Anthony Gallo Memorial Park and smaller play areas broaden local options.

Community programs

Seasonal recreation, youth sports and borough events are scheduled through the Recreation Department.

Waterfront connection

Sesselman Park links toward Wallington Waterfront Park through a short walking connection identified in borough recreation planning.

Borough Parks & Recreation

Schools & education

McKenzie School

125 Carlton Avenue · Pre-K–3 · East Rutherford School District.

Lincoln School

258 Grove Street · Grades 4–5 · East Rutherford School District.

A.S. Faust School

100 Uhland Street · Grades 6–8 · East Rutherford School District.

Henry P. Becton Regional High School

120 Paterson Avenue · Grades 9–12 · serves East Rutherford, Carlstadt and Maywood.

East Rutherford School District Becton Regional High School

East Rutherford Memorial Library

143 Boiling Springs Avenue

The borough's public library is a member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System.

Programs & collections

Books, digital resources, community programs and BCCLS borrowing expand local access.

Phone

201-939-3930

East Rutherford Memorial Library

Transportation & commuting

NJ Transit bus

Current service in and around East Rutherford includes routes such as 160, 163, 164 and 703, with stop patterns varying by route and time.

American Dream service

NJ Transit Route 355 provides direct service between the Port Authority Bus Terminal and American Dream.

Meadowlands Rail Station

Special-event rail service operates from Secaucus Junction for qualifying large Meadowlands events.

Rutherford rail nearby

Rutherford's Bergen County Line station sits close to the borough and broadens rail options for some residents and visitors.

Regional roads

Route 17, Route 3 and nearby approaches to the New Jersey Turnpike connect East Rutherford with the wider metropolitan region.

Commute

The Census reports a mean commute of 28.3 minutes for East Rutherford workers in the 2020–2024 period.

NJ Transit Meadowlands Travel

Borough government & official resources

Borough Hall is at 1 Everett Place, East Rutherford, NJ 07073. The main municipal phone number is 201-933-3444. Jeffrey Lahullier serves as mayor in 2026.

Nearby communities

Carlstadt

Neighboring Meadowlands borough with industrial, business and recreation connections.

Rutherford

Traditional downtown, Bergen County Line rail service and restaurants directly west.

Wallington

Residential borough across the Passaic River with a pedestrian park connection from Sesselman Park.

Lyndhurst

Meadowlands nature, rail access, local business districts and residential neighborhoods.

Secaucus

Major transit, retail, lodging and business center south of the Meadowlands.

Wood-Ridge & Moonachie

Nearby South Bergen communities connected through local roads, employment and regional services.

Explore East Rutherford on NJTGO

Use the complete seven-page guide for local businesses, dining, real estate, visitor information, classifieds and employment across both the residential borough and the Meadowlands.

BusinessDiningReal EstateMetLifeAmerican DreamJobs
Advertising & Enhanced Listings

East Rutherford government, Census, school, library, transportation, recreation and visitor information was reviewed in September 2026. Event schedules, transit, programs and municipal information can change; verify time-sensitive details with the responsible public agency.