North Arlington is a town people are dying to get into.

No, really.

The breathing population of this 2.5 square mile municipality is a little bit under 16,000, according to Census figures.

But it has, by some estimates, 300,000 dead people.

That’s because it’s home to what may be the state’s largest burial ground -- Holy Cross Cemetery. It occupies 208 acres right smack in the middle of town, off Ridge Road.

Ridge Road is the place where people who live in North Arlington go to grab a sandwich or a cup of coffee. It’s loaded with businesses, apartment buildings -- even borough hall and North Arlington High School are there.

It’s a bustling area of town. And a valuable hunk of land. And it’s tax exempt.

Land occupied by cemeteries in North Arlington is worth more than burial properties anywhere else in the state, meaning the municipality is missing out on major tax dollars.

According to state data, cemeteries in the town are on land worth a whopping $187 million -- a big sum that could be ratables if it had another use.

Paramus takes second place on this list, forgoing taxes on land worth $119 million. And the City of Newark is out nearly $110 million in ratables because of cemeteries.

It’s a sore point for residents and other business owners in town who have to pay their fair share.

Even Tom Meloro, whose family owns Thomas Meloro & Sons, a business that sells tombstones across from Holy Cross, thinks the cemetery should contribute something.

Steve LoIacono, the borough administrator for North Arlington, is quick to point out, “When you have ratables, it’s not all gravy.”

If the land were developed into houses or businesses, it would all further strain municipal services like schools, police and fire, ultimately costing the borough more money.

But wait. Let’s take a step back.

Dead people aren’t North Arlington’s only distinction.

In 2017, it was named by Money Magazine as one of the top 10 best places in America to raise a family, citing a small-town feel that’s less than 15 miles from New York City’s financial district, good schools, easy access to the Meadowlands Sports Complex and the 85-acre Riverside County Park.

A sign on Ridge Road welcoming visitors to North Arlington

A sign welcoming visitors notes North Arlington is where Bergen County begins, because it’s bordered by Essex and Hudson.

Homes there have a median value of $347,800 and the median household income in this mostly blue collar enclave is $74,481, according to Census figures.

“I feel secure here,” said Gina Petrin, who has lived in North Arlington on and off since 1973.

“I like it because it’s quiet,” said Jerod Egan, who moved from Jersey City to North Arlington 22 years ago so his kids could attend the high school.

The two friends were catching up Friday outside the Viking Deli & Grill on Ridge Road, named after North Arlington’s mascot.

Egan also pointed to solid sports programs for kids, that the town had just renovated a couple of its fields and more improvements were expected to another field in the spring.

North Arlington also has a few historical milestones to brag about.

It’s home to what may be the oldest copper mine in the country, dating back to 1715. And the first steam engine – imported from England – was operated there in the 1750s.

The cemetery came much later. Holy Cross was established in 1915, when Ridge Road was still lined with dirt.

It has grown over the past 104 years to earn national recognition for its art, architecture and use of technology. And Holy Cross’ mausoleum -- which was under construction and expansion for 35 years -- is believed to be the largest in the country.

Representatives for Holy Cross, which falls under the Archdiocese of Newark, could not be reached for comment.

“It is very highly regarded within the cemetery industry as well kept, with beautiful statues and monuments,” LoIacono, the borough administrator said.

But all that beauty behind the gates, doesn’t justify a free ride for some.

“If you die, they charge you taxes,” Egan said. “They should get taxed like everybody else.”

This article is part of “Unknown New Jersey,” an ongoing series that highlights interesting and little-known stories about our past, present, and future -- all the unusual things that make our great state what is it. Got a story to pitch? Email it to local@njadvancemedia.com.

Read More Unknown New Jersey stories like this:

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.