Town file
Demarest, New Jersey
Demarest, New Jersey (Bergen County, New Jersey) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 745, "The Charming Susan Strangler" (22 October 2026). Susan Reeve was a 22-year-old from Demarest, New Jersey, born in 1953, the oldest of four children of Arthur Reeve, an attorney and former municipal judge, and his wife Barbara.
- Town
- Demarest
- County
- Bergen County
- State
- New Jersey
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 745
- Approximate location
- 40.954, -73.955
Episode 745 / 22 October 2026 / 184 min / full
The Charming Susan Strangler
"James: 'We're going to Demarest, New Jersey this week'; northeastern New Jersey, about 50 minutes from New York City, in Bergen County, area code 201" about 0:05:01
The case: The Susan strangulations: murders of Susan Reeve and Susan Haynes (October 1975). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2026
- Population
- 4,977
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income
- $191,346
- Median home value
- $964,500
- Cost of living
- $141,000
- Religious
- 65%
- Property crime
- ▼ less than one-third of the national average
- Violent crime
- ▼ about one-quarter of the national average
History, in brief
- John Demarest's wool mill later became an optical (eyeglass) company, and later a piano factory. about 0:06:24
- In 1903 the borough of Demarest was formed after separating from the township of Harrington; the first mayor was John H.Z. Demarest. about 0:06:54
- A new Methodist congregation used to meet in the bowling alley, which burned down. about 0:07:18
- In the First World War, while Camp Merritt was being built in Cresskill and Dumont, troops were quartered in tents on the Demarest racetrack, where the high school now stands. about 0:07:30
The reviews read out
5 stars
"Really quiet place with friendly neighbours; a gazebo downtown hosts free summer concerts; small downtown but neighbouring towns have the stores; under an hour from Manhattan; schools win many awards."about 0:07:58
4 stars
"The crime isn't very bad in my town."about 0:08:59
3 stars
"An all right town with decent schools, nice people and a nature center, but known as one of the safest towns in New Jersey, so possibly too safe."about 0:09:10
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Fair Lawn, New Jersey8.6 miles
- Garfield, New Jersey9.5 miles
- Ramsey, New Jersey12 miles
- Chappaqua, New York17 miles
- Hanover Township, New Jersey26 miles
- Chatham Township, New Jersey27 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.