The 2000 Census listed 7,734 residents in the borough. The population grew by a little more than 1,000 in 2001. The growth for 2002 was about 500, totaling 9,212.

Since then growth has slowed somewhat, with the 2007 estimate at 9,582. A variety of developments have gone up in the last seven years, including condos, rentals, and townhouses.

Realtors have mixed opinions on how strong the market is, but one relatively new luxury condominium, One Hudson Park, announced that it is now more than 90 percent sold. Residents started moving into the high-rise on the southern end of River Road in May 2007.

According to a listing on the New Jersey Multiple Listings Service, a database of homes sold in the area, a 1,580 square foot two-bedroom unit at One Hudson Park sold in May 2008 for $769,000, after being originally listed at $919,000.

Matthew Perasso, an agent with Weichert Realty in Fort Lee, said more modestly priced housing is definitely doing better than luxury housing but there’s a strong demand in general right now.

"People still need to own a home," he said.

With interests rates improving, he said people are choosing to own rather than pay the same amount to rent a place.

Erminia Ieracitiano, an agent with Smart Realty in Edgewater, said she’s seeing rentals doing better than sales right now but said, in general, that the market is slow.

"People are feeling prices will go down and like to wait," she said.

Perasso said he’s also seeing renters in the borough become buyers because they want to stay, while he sees some owners sell and become renters because they need something bigger.

"Edgewater is a really weird animal when it comes to consistency," Perasso said. "The name has a reputation for being expensive but there’s some values out there."

Perasso said home seekers may need to look for a smaller square footage."

He said a recent listing for a one bedroom in Independence Harbor got an offer for $379,000 within a week.

"It’s well-priced but it doesn’t mean they’re giving it away," he said.

Fifty-nine sales since January were listed in Edgewater on the Multiple Listing Service. Condominium sales ranged from $280,000 for a studio to $995,000 for a two-bedroom.

The listings included 12 non-condominium or co-ops. Those ranged from $437,500 for a two-bedroom colonial to $1.9 million for a three-bedroom townhouse.

Perasso said it looks like investors are coming back since some of his clients are interested in fixing up homes to re-sell them.

Ieracitiano said she also sees a lot of young couples moving in from New York City for the convenience of transportation options.

Perasso said that he moved to the borough from Manhattan.

"It’s not too quiet, but it’s kind of quiet but still has some activity," he said. "The trend seems to be to live where everything is, especially with gas prices today."

He knows heavy traffic on River Road is a major complaint among residents. Perasso said most of that isn’t from residents, but rather spillover from New York City commuters and heavy development going up in neighboring North Bergen.

Borough Administrator Gregory Franz said the borough administration has been aware of the population growth.

"I think the Mayor and Council recognized the need for strategic planning in terms of police and public works," he said.

The police department is up to 34 officers, which is the highest it’s been, Franz said.

"With any population growth there’s definitely a need to provide for it and I think Edgewater has done so accordingly." Franz said.