In the county, median incomes went from $89,452 to $85,806, but still fared better than the state or nation.
Median incomes in Bergen County are now smaller than they were before the recession, according to the most recent Census data.
Overall, the median income is down in both New Jersey and the United States. But compared to those figures, the landscape for residents in the state's most populous county looks slightly better.
The median income in Bergen County decreased by about 4 percent, according to a comparison of data before and after the Great Recession.
In the county, median incomes went from $89,452 to $85,806, but still fared better than the state and nation. In New Jersey, median incomes decreased by 4.95 percent and in the United States, they decreased by 4.7 percent.
Notably, in Alpine, home to rap artists and sports stars, the median income dropped by more than $110,000 -- or nearly 40 percent. The town also saw nearly a quarter of its residents leave in the same period.
Philip Dolce, a history professor at Bergen Community College and director of the school's suburban studies program, said a factor in the decrease in median income is that millennials are moving to urban areas and taking their paychecks with them.
Millennials, considered those who are now between the ages of 18 and 34, are seeking the jobs and late-night activities more commonly found in cities, Dolce said.
"What can you do when you're 20 years old in this town? You can go to the movies, you can go to restaurants or you can go to sleep," he said.
Adding to the issue, Dolce said, businesses are also moving to urban areas seeking the workforce and suburbs are losing that revenue.
An increase in median income was only recorded in a handful of Bergen's towns, but the highest increase in median income was seen in Fairview where it rose by more than 18 percent.
The lowest median income post-recession was in Garfield at nearly $45,000. Lodi followed at more than $50,700.
At the other end of the spectrum, a number of towns had median incomes that toppled $160,000. At the top of the list? Upper Saddle River with a median income of $169,301.
The lowest poverty rate in the county was in Ho-Ho Kus at .22 percent. Two other towns had poverty rates under 1 percent, including Oradell and Haworth.
The highest poverty rate in the county was in Fairview at slightly more than 17 percent. Garfield, which had the lowest median income in the state, and Hackensack followed.
Only one county in the state, Hudson County, saw higher median incomes post-recession and Atlantic County, at 9.84 percent, had the biggest decrease in median incomes.
Compared to other counties, Bergen landed in the 6th for the lowest changes in median incomes.
Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.