The 10 Best Places To Live In New Jersey For 2025


The best places to live in New Jersey for 2025 are Park Ridge, Fair Haven, and Hillsdale. Find out where your city or town ranks.

We all know New Jersey is the best state in the Union. What with the bagels, diners, the shore, and all the great produce.

But because the whole state is the best, choosing the best place to live in New Jersey is hard.

We decided this question needed to be answered once and for all. So we used Saturday Night Science to compare Census, FBI, and Zillow data for the 177 places in New Jersey over 5,000 people. In particular, we looked at factors like home prices, crime rates, unemployment, and income.

And while you might have heard about Hoboken, Trenton, or Newark, New Jersey has some fantastic smaller places that we’re going to highlight today.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Map | Methodology | Summary


What’s the best place to live in the Garden State? The best place to live in New Jersey is Park Ridge based on FBI, Zillow, and Census data.

But honestly, having grown up in Mendham and living around the country, there really is no better state in the Union, so enjoy the Taylor Ham and pizza every day you can.

For more reading, check out:

The 10 Best Places To Live In New Jersey For 2025

Best Places To Live In New Jersey Map

Park Ridge, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User KLOTZPLATE | CC BY-SA 4.0
StatPark RidgeNew Jersey
Population9,2189,267,014
Rank Last Year2
Median Home Value$666,200$427,600
Median Income$165,391$101,050
Unemployment Rate2.7%6.2%
Crime Per Capita0.00250.0169

More on Park Ridge: Data

Coming in as the best place to live in New Jersey is Park Ridge, a borough of 9,218 located about a half-hour north of Newark.

For starters, Park Ridge ranked as one of the safest places in New Jersey, recording the 8th lowest overall crime rate statewide — the crime rate in Park Ridge is nearly half the national average.

It’s not just safe streets, though. Park Ridge has some of the best schools in New Jersey, with their elementary school scoring in the top 5% statewide and their high school receiving a College Success Award from GreatSchools.

Education has undoubtedly played a key role in reducing poverty and unemployment numbers to incredibly low levels. In fact, the median household income in Park Ridge is $165,391, and the median home price here is $666,200.

If you’re looking for fun things to do locally, the Wortendyke Dutch Barn Museum provides a unique historical perspective on Bergen County’s roots. And having Newark down the road helps meet your entertainment needs as well. After all, you can always catch a New Jersey Devils’ game or a concert at the Prudential Center.

Fair Haven, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Apc106 | CC BY-SA 3.0
StatFair HavenNew Jersey
Population6,1829,267,014
Rank Last Year3
Median Home Value$943,300$427,600
Median Income$237,132$101,050
Unemployment Rate3.2%6.2%
Crime Per Capita0.00290.0169

More on Fair Haven: Data

Fair Haven is a Monmouth County borough of 6,182 and ranks as the 2nd best place to live in New Jersey. Whether you’re after a heady meal complete with live jazz or piano music at Raven & the Peach or looking for outdoors serenity at the nearby Hartshorne Woods Park, Fair Haven has you covered.

As for being family-friendly, 47.73% of Fair Haven’s households have kids, so you know that people consider it an excellent place to raise children. The statistics actually prove the truth of that, considering that GreatSchools gave Fair Haven an average score of 9/10 for its public schools, and test scores here are in the top 5% statewide.

If you don’t want to embarrass yourself at a pub quiz night in Fair Haven, you’d better get studying because 81% of adults are highly educated here (including an incredible 30% of adults with master’s degrees or higher). Additionally, 98.9% of residents have health insurance in Fair Haven, the 8th highest rate in New Jersey.

But you won’t need that insurance for any crime-induced injuries. Fair Haven had the 2nd lowest total crime rate over 2023.

Hillsdale, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User JERRYE | CC BY-SA 4.0
StatHillsdaleNew Jersey
Population10,0869,267,014
Rank Last Year1
Median Home Value$656,800$427,600
Median Income$169,862$101,050
Unemployment Rate2.9%6.2%
Crime Per Capita0.00310.0169

More on Hillsdale: Data

Hillsdale, another borough located in Bergen County, ranks as the number 3 best place to live in New Jersey. Hillsdale’s appeal lies in top-tier schools, robust demand for housing, and a low crime rate.

The town boasts the Stonybrook Swim Club with its pool complex and recreational facilities and Beechwood Park’s amphitheater, playground, and walking trails provide ample leisure options.

With a range of recreational sports and a community-oriented environment, Hillsdale remains a sought-after location for families and individuals alike, solidifying its reputation as one of the best places to live in the state.

Manasquan, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Nightscream | CC BY-SA 3.0
StatManasquanNew Jersey
Population5,9159,267,014
Rank Last Year24
Median Home Value$947,100$427,600
Median Income$156,542$101,050
Unemployment Rate2.8%6.2%
Crime Per Capita0.00960.0169

More on Manasquan: Data

Waldwick, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Daniel Case | CC BY-SA 3.0
StatWaldwickNew Jersey
Population10,0909,267,014
Rank Last Year5
Median Home Value$576,200$427,600
Median Income$155,526$101,050
Unemployment Rate2.7%6.2%
Crime Per Capita0.00240.0169

More on Waldwick: Data

We’re sticking around Bergen County for our 5th best place to live in New Jersey, Waldwick. At $576,200, homes in Waldwick are some of the cheapest you’ll find on this list. Residents still enjoy a high median household income of $155,526/year, which helps give Waldwick the second lowest cost of living among the cities we’re covering here. And an unemployment rate of 2.7% is the 8th lowest in New Jersey. Just 3.3% of folks in Waldwick are on food stamps, so you know the economy is working just fine here without government assistance.

Low crime numbers and solid scores in education also make Waldwick an attractive place to live. Fans of railroad history will also be interested in visiting the Waldwick Museum.

Haddonfield, NJ

Source: Public domain
StatHaddonfieldNew Jersey
Population12,5029,267,014
Rank Last Year14
Median Home Value$708,800$427,600
Median Income$190,882$101,050
Unemployment Rate3.4%6.2%
Crime Per Capita0.01360.0169

More on Haddonfield: Data

Located just 10 miles east of Philadelphia, Haddonfield ranks as the 6th best place to call home in New Jersey. You may want to do a quick study session before going out to a pub quiz in Haddonfield, because over 35% of residents here have at least a master’s degree. And since the hyper-educated tend to have an easier time finding good-paying jobs, it’s no surprise that Haddonfield has the 27th lowest poverty level in New Jersey.

The median household income in Haddonfield is $190,882/year and the median home price is $708,800. That combination of stats gives Haddonfield the lowest cost of living among the places we’re covering on this list. On top of that, 98.9% of residents have health insurance, which is the 6th highest in the state.

Literature buffs will also appreciate the fact that the Walt Whitman House in Camden is just fifteen minutes away.

Oradell, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
StatOradellNew Jersey
Population8,1979,267,014
Rank Last Year15
Median Home Value$702,400$427,600
Median Income$214,736$101,050
Unemployment Rate3.4%6.2%
Crime Per Capita0.00270.0169

More on Oradell: Data

Oradell’s combination of safety, top-rated schools, and proximity to both nature and urban amenities make it one of the best places to live in New Jersey. This quaint borough is known for its safe and friendly neighborhoods, making it an ideal location for families.

Oradell has something to do for everyone. You can explore the beautiful Oradell Reservoir in town. Or drive the fifteen miles northwest to Midtown Manhattan for all the cultural attractions and entertainment options that New York City has to offer.

The median home price in Oradell is $702,400, making it an attractive option for those looking to settle down in a charming community without breaking the bank.

Fanwood, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com | CC BY-SA 4.0
StatFanwoodNew Jersey
Population7,7149,267,014
Rank Last Year19
Median Home Value$610,600$427,600
Median Income$176,667$101,050
Unemployment Rate2.8%6.2%
Crime Per Capita0.00440.0169

More on Fanwood: Data

Little Silver, NJ

Source: Public domain
StatLittle SilverNew Jersey
Population6,0969,267,014
Rank Last Year6
Median Home Value$870,700$427,600
Median Income$220,746$101,050
Unemployment Rate3.1%6.2%
Crime Per Capita0.00840.0169

More on Little Silver: Data

Located in Monmouth County, New Jersey, Little Silver is ranked as the 9th best place to live in the state. With a population of 6,096 and a median income of 220,746, it offers its residents a high standard of living.

Little Silver enjoys access to the beautiful beaches of the Jersey Shore, which are just a short drive away. The town itself has a charming downtown area with unique shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Little Silver is highly regarded for its top-notch education system, with a high percentage of adults being highly educated. The community prides itself on providing excellent schools that consistently rank among the best in the state. This makes Little Silver an ideal place for families with children.

Cresskill, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. | CC BY-SA 4.0
StatCresskillNew Jersey
Population9,1019,267,014
Rank Last Year7
Median Home Value$764,800$427,600
Median Income$173,293$101,050
Unemployment Rate4.8%6.2%
Crime Per Capita0.00340.0169

More on Cresskill: Data

Cresskill is yet another Bergen County representative on this list, ranking as the 10th best place to call home in New Jersey. There’s something special about living in a place where you’re only a half-hour (on a good traffic-day) from New York City’s Broadway, but still have your fill of nature.

The Tenafly Nature Center is just a town over and offers all sorts of events in addition to maintaining countless miles of gorgeous trails. Now, to be fair, Cresskill is one of the richest places in New Jersey, so you’ll want some savings or a lucrative job lined up before making the move.

Cresskill’s median household income is $173,293 and the median home value is $764,800. Aside from steep housing prices, the cost of living in Cresskill is basically on par with the national average. In any case, it’s a small price to pay for safe streets, smart neighbors, excellent local schools, rock-bottom unemployment, and world-class amenities at your doorstep.

Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in New Jersey

Best Places To Live In New Jersey Size Requirement

Before we even started to collect data on the best places to live in New Jersey, we had to answer a tough question: Is it fair to pit Trenton, with a population of 89,966, against places with a population of 18?

We firmly decided no, that just isn’t fair.

So, to create our ranking, we broke the best places to live into three tiers:

  • Cities — Populations over 5,000
  • Towns — Populations between 1,000 and 5,000
  • Small Towns — Populations below 1,000

This filter left 177 cities, 209 towns, and 67 small towns.

We then decided no matter how much anyone loves their town, the best cities to live in New Jersey have more of everything, and therefore, you need over 5,000 people to truly be ‘the best.’

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In New Jersey

Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.

We ranked each place in New Jersey across a number of criteria from one to 177, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In New Jersey.”

The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:

  • Median Home Values
  • Median Income
  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Unemployment Rate
  • Commute Time
  • Crime
  • Education Levels
  • Health Insurance Coverage
  • Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2025. This report is our tenth time ranking New Jersey’s best places to live.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in New Jersey. Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Park Ridge at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Summary: The Best Places In New Jersey

If you’re looking at areas in New Jersey with the best economic situations, where there’s lower than average crime, and a lot to do, this is an accurate list.

The best places to live in New Jersey are Park Ridge, Fair Haven, Hillsdale, Manasquan, Waldwick, Haddonfield, Oradell, Fanwood, Little Silver, and Cresskill.

Park Ridge made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in New Jersey for 2025.

If you’re curious enough, here are the worst places to live in New Jersey according to the data:

  1. Camden (Pop. 71,471)
  2. Bridgeton (Pop. 26,836)
  3. Salem (Pop. 5,315)

For more New Jersey reading, check out:

Best Places To Live In New Jersey Table

RankCityPopulationUnemployment RateHome ValueMedian IncomeRentCrime Per Capita
1Park Ridge9,2182.7%$666,200$165,391$1,9950.0025
2Fair Haven6,1823.2%$943,300$237,132$3,5000.0029
3Hillsdale10,0862.9%$656,800$169,862$1,7200.0031
4Manasquan5,9152.8%$947,100$156,542$1,6550.0096
5Waldwick10,0902.7%$576,200$155,526$3,1890.0024
6Haddonfield12,5023.4%$708,800$190,882$1,7830.0136
7Oradell8,1973.4%$702,400$214,736$2,2020.0027
8Fanwood7,7142.8%$610,600$176,667$2,3680.0044
9Little Silver6,0963.1%$870,700$220,746$3,5010.0084
10Cresskill9,1014.8%$764,800$173,293$2,3110.0034
11Franklin Lakes11,0112.3%$1,217,500$230,987$3,3340.0053
12Westfield30,7603.5%$930,500$212,700$2,2110.0087
13Old Tappan5,8962.5%$910,600$199,250$3,2410.0042
14Madison16,4646.8%$882,900$168,469$2,2480.0048
15Ridgewood26,0763.5%$882,700$217,250$2,3400.0067
16Florham Park13,1344.6%$722,700$147,714$3,0090.0071
17Westwood11,2212.6%$587,700$169,026$2,3510.0041
18Midland Park6,9968.0%$586,200$140,063$1,8370.0046
19Glen Rock12,0826.1%$817,300$210,369$1,9380.0073
20Chatham9,2195.9%$944,300$250,001$2,2510.0073
21Mountainside6,9672.1%$755,600$210,100$3,5010.0024
22Emerson7,2637.1%$626,000$153,963$1,9260.0022
23Allendale6,8202.7%$764,600$156,992$2,6480.0037
24Bernardsville7,8713.7%$737,600$231,006$2,1550.0044
25Morris Plains6,2144.4%$609,700$149,623$2,6860.0109
26Woodcliff Lake6,09710.2%$901,800$211,233$2,6290.0069
27Wood-Ridge10,0944.7%$532,900$131,412$1,8860.0051
28Glen Ridge7,8276.1%$730,600$248,016$2,3470.0187
29Ramsey14,7222.9%$665,700$164,767$2,0090.0088
30Union Beach5,7223.1%$452,900$128,400$1,9570.0010
31Caldwell8,8984.0%$563,000$101,196$1,9370.0039
32Hawthorne19,4725.0%$499,200$118,093$1,8280.0100
33Roseland6,2115.2%$640,600$160,644$3,2930.0092
34Point Pleasant19,1582.8%$523,400$108,713$1,9690.0047
35Rumson7,2654.8%$1,609,400$250,001$2,3510.0055
36Oceanport6,1304.9%$685,800$156,196$1,3100.0069
37Fair Lawn35,1534.7%$532,700$147,952$1,9080.0097
38River Edge12,0244.7%$637,500$155,827$1,8110.0098
39Hoboken58,3403.4%$872,100$176,943$2,8190.0155
40New Milford16,8826.4%$554,800$113,513$1,7220.0047
41Tenafly15,2527.0%$974,300$208,088$3,1430.0047
42Oakland12,7004.9%$567,200$162,862$1,4620.0035
43Upper Saddle River8,3547.9%$1,101,800$246,719$3,5010.0037
44Dumont18,0723.2%$469,900$125,585$1,7780.0045
45Montvale8,6254.4%$688,500$183,664$2,2410.0096
46Summit22,5124.3%$969,900$199,107$2,3080.0086
47Matawan9,6365.7%$447,000$122,026$1,7140.0001
48Kinnelon9,9719.4%$682,600$178,102$2,3070.0039
49Metuchen14,9825.3%$565,400$157,779$2,0190.0127
50Kenilworth8,3397.1%$521,100$126,295$2,1190.0094
51Northfield8,4272.8%$275,900$104,042$1,5540.0108
52Audubon8,6994.2%$288,500$116,900$1,2110.0444
53Rutherford18,7483.5%$580,800$136,069$1,8590.0127
54Leonia9,3005.6%$634,500$116,429$2,1490.0097
55Pompton Lakes11,0103.9%$411,100$119,038$1,8220.0040
56Closter8,5444.4%$820,100$187,500$2,6510.0115
57Edgewater14,5444.9%$723,400$137,847$2,6450.0133
58Maywood10,0427.2%$495,700$119,306$1,9320.0135
59North Caldwell6,6226.3%$906,100$203,140$3,2500.0268
60Bergenfield28,2695.7%$469,200$124,083$1,7440.0037
61New Providence13,5773.3%$734,300$162,877$1,9060.0401
62West Long Branch8,5766.7%$631,300$123,661$1,9360.0119
63Linwood6,9547.2%$351,100$135,904$2,0700.0108
64Jamesburg5,7634.5%$344,900$117,719$1,8410.0085
65Hasbrouck Heights12,0676.6%$508,500$118,670$1,6050.0049
66Roselle Park13,9654.8%$405,800$104,418$1,5850.0120
67Watchung6,4298.0%$833,300$166,536$2,5710.0381
68Haddon Heights7,4884.8%$354,700$126,055$1,1950.1191
69Wanaque11,1624.1%$366,400$112,326$1,8850.0022
70Pitman8,8346.1%$258,400$96,199$1,4740.0035
71Butler8,0725.0%$425,900$110,375$1,4550.0059
72Norwood5,6681.2%$676,400$164,766$2,4461.6833
73Mount Arlington5,9012.9%$393,400$99,511$2,3090.0056
74Highland Park14,9814.7%$463,600$101,991$1,8810.0143
75Paramus26,5008.0%$736,000$139,707$2,8450.0309
76Ridgefield11,4395.5%$609,700$115,676$1,9350.0108
77Rockaway6,5898.5%$427,800$100,028$1,4960.0049
78Beachwood11,0022.9%$307,500$102,043$2,2360.0120
79Palisades Park20,1925.4%$704,400$101,295$1,9760.0083
80Barrington7,0475.1%$244,400$84,334$1,2820.0096
81Englewood Cliffs5,3304.5%$1,232,700$222,192$3,5011.6833
82Hopatcong14,4703.1%$318,600$114,057$1,5630.0018
83North Arlington16,3686.4%$464,700$101,493$1,7060.0136
84Somerville12,9584.0%$403,600$103,869$1,7480.0381
85Brigantine7,7025.7%$485,000$88,906$1,4990.0116
86Woodland Park13,2846.0%$475,400$85,638$1,7730.0138
87Totowa10,9194.5%$507,700$114,177$1,7030.0331
88South Plainfield24,2317.2%$443,900$126,063$1,9280.0190
89Berlin7,5031.8%$310,000$101,008$1,3990.0167
90Fort Lee39,8185.0%$422,200$105,535$2,2550.0149
91Boonton8,8036.2%$475,300$100,417$1,7610.0309
92Red Bank12,8643.1%$477,000$101,738$1,9850.0137
93Cliffside Park25,5804.8%$577,200$94,960$1,7830.0080
94Carlstadt6,3435.4%$523,800$94,854$1,5030.0197
95Secaucus21,4376.1%$557,800$134,746$2,1970.0348
96Bogota9,1108.0%$443,400$107,321$1,8930.0098
97Bloomingdale7,6864.2%$398,000$126,221$1,7720.0035
98Lincoln Park10,90110.3%$419,500$119,000$1,8240.0084
99North Haledon8,7575.3%$517,200$131,810$2,4350.0331
100Ringwood11,6005.6%$434,800$142,529$1,9340.0331

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.