The 10 Best Places To Live In New Jersey For 2024


The best places to live in New Jersey for 2024 are Hillsdale, Park Ridge, and Fair Haven. 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 Hillsdale 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 2024

Best Places To Live In New Jersey Map

Hillsdale, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User JERRYE | CC BY-SA 4.0
Stat Hillsdale New Jersey
Population 10,125 9,249,063
Rank Last Year 4
Median Home Value $698,480 $495,846
Median Income $175,802 $97,126
Unemployment Rate 2.9% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0034 0.0130

More on Hillsdale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Hillsdale, another borough located in Bergen County, ranks as the number 1 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.

Park Ridge, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User KLOTZPLATE | CC BY-SA 4.0
Stat Park Ridge New Jersey
Population 9,098 9,249,063
Rank Last Year 1
Median Home Value $706,489 $495,846
Median Income $164,241 $97,126
Unemployment Rate 3.0% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0031 0.0130

More on Park Ridge: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Coming in as the 2nd best place to live in New Jersey is Park Ridge, a borough of 9,098 located about a half-hour north of Newark.

For starters, Park Ridge ranked as one of the safest places in New Jersey, recording the 9th 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 $164,241, and the median home price here is $706,489.

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
Stat Fair Haven New Jersey
Population 6,221 9,249,063
Rank Last Year 11
Median Home Value $1,262,730 $495,846
Median Income $229,643 $97,126
Unemployment Rate 3.6% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0047 0.0130

More on Fair Haven: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Fair Haven is a Monmouth County borough of 6,221 and ranks as the 3rd 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, 46.15% 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 79% of adults are highly educated here (including an incredible 30% of adults with master’s degrees or higher). Additionally, 99.1% of residents have health insurance in Fair Haven, the 4th highest rate in New Jersey.

But you won’t need that insurance for any crime-induced injuries. Fair Haven had the 3rd lowest total crime rate over 2022.

Old Tappan, NJ

Source: Public domain
Stat Old Tappan New Jersey
Population 5,863 9,249,063
Rank Last Year 5
Median Home Value $993,658 $495,846
Median Income $195,833 $97,126
Unemployment Rate 3.4% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0048 0.0130

More on Old Tappan: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Old Tappan, located in Bergen County, New Jersey, has a combination of low cost of living, attractive median home price, and abundant recreational activities, making it a highly desirable place to live in New Jersey. The town is also surrounded by numerous attractions and activities.

You can take advantage of the town’s beautiful parks and green spaces, which offer a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Additionally, Old Tappan is located near the Hudson River, providing easy access to water activities such as boating and fishing.

Old Tappan is conveniently situated near major transportation routes, making it an ideal place for commuters. The town offers a peaceful suburban atmosphere while still within reach of nearby cities’ vibrant cultural and entertainment scenes.

Little Silver, NJ

Source: Public domain
Stat Little Silver New Jersey
Population 6,104 9,249,063
Rank Last Year 7
Median Home Value $936,174 $495,846
Median Income $216,974 $97,126
Unemployment Rate 3.3% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0067 0.0130

More on Little Silver: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Located in Monmouth County, New Jersey, Little Silver is ranked as the 5th best place to live in the state. With a population of 6,104 and a median income of 216,974, 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.

Waldwick, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Daniel Case | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Waldwick New Jersey
Population 10,068 9,249,063
Rank Last Year 6
Median Home Value $600,598 $495,846
Median Income $150,861 $97,126
Unemployment Rate 2.2% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0033 0.0130

More on Waldwick: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

We’re sticking around Bergen County for our 6th best place to live in New Jersey, Waldwick. At $600,598, homes in Waldwick are some of the cheapest you’ll find on this list. Residents still enjoy a high median household income of $150,861/year, which helps give Waldwick the second lowest cost of living among the cities we’re covering here. And an unemployment rate of 2.2% is the 2nd lowest in New Jersey. Just 3.0% 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.

Cresskill, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. | CC BY-SA 4.0
Stat Cresskill New Jersey
Population 9,105 9,249,063
Rank Last Year 9
Median Home Value $824,668 $495,846
Median Income $162,430 $97,126
Unemployment Rate 3.8% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0036 0.0130

More on Cresskill: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Cresskill is yet another Bergen County representative on this list, ranking as the 7th 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 $162,430 and the median home value is $824,668. 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.

Florham Park, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Leifern | GFDL
Stat Florham Park New Jersey
Population 12,790 9,249,063
Rank Last Year 3
Median Home Value $852,042 $495,846
Median Income $141,620 $97,126
Unemployment Rate 3.4% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0045 0.0130

More on Florham Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Florham Park, located in Morris County, New Jersey, is ranked as the number 8 best place to live in the state. Florham Park is known for its beautiful parks, including the 127-acre Florham Park Roller Rink and the stunning Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Residents can also enjoy various recreational activities like hiking, biking, and golfing at the nearby Pinch Brook Golf Course. In addition to its natural beauty, Florham Park is less than an hour’s drive away from New York City.

With its affordable, for New Jersey, cost of living and median home price of $852,042, Florham Park offers residents an excellent value for their investment. The borough also boasts a highly educated population, with over 65% of adults having attained a higher education degree.

New Providence, NJ

Source: Public domain
Stat New Providence New Jersey
Population 13,595 9,249,063
Rank Last Year 8
Median Home Value $806,187 $495,846
Median Income $167,188 $97,126
Unemployment Rate 4.0% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0043 0.0130

More on New Providence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

New Providence, located in Union County, is the number 9 best place to live in the Garden State. With a median home price of $806,187 and a median rent of $1,896, New Providence provides affordable housing options for individuals and families in New Jersey.

The Passaic River Parkway provides a scenic backdrop for outdoor activities such as hiking and picnicking. For those seeking cultural experiences, New Providence is just a short distance from museums and theaters, and there’s always the local New Providence Memorial Library to spend a weekend morning.

Westfield, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Westfield New Jersey
Population 30,839 9,249,063
Rank Last Year 13
Median Home Value $1,040,776 $495,846
Median Income $203,235 $97,126
Unemployment Rate 4.0% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0077 0.0130

More on Westfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Located just west of Newark, Westfield is a town of 30,839, making it the biggest place on this list. Downtown Westfield is a regional destination with plenty of shopping, restaurants, and nightlife, so this just might be the most exciting place to live among the places we’re covering here.

Roughly 75% of Westfield residents have at least a bachelor’s degree, so you know people take education seriously here. That dedication to learning has translated into a number of economic successes. Like having the 14th highest median household income in the state at $203,235/year. Or having a poverty level of just 2.0% and the 29th highest percentage of residents with health insurance in the state, 97.4%. And with a perfect 10/10 SnackAbility score for education, you’d better believe that Westfield’s up-and-coming generation is set up nicely to continue the community’s tradition of excellence.

And since my wife grew up here, I think it’s pretty great.

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 90,055, 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 2024. 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 Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale, Park Ridge, Fair Haven, Old Tappan, Little Silver, Waldwick, Cresskill, Florham Park, New Providence, and Westfield.

Hillsdale made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in New Jersey for 2024.

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

  1. Camden (Pop. 71,799)
  2. Salem (Pop. 5,285)
  3. Bridgeton (Pop. 26,895)

For more New Jersey reading, check out:

Best Places To Live In New Jersey Table

Rank City Population Unemployment Rate Home Value Median Income Rent Crime Per Capita
1 Hillsdale 10,125 2.9% $698,480 $175,802 $1,755 0.0034
2 Park Ridge 9,098 3.0% $706,489 $164,241 $1,887 0.0031
3 Fair Haven 6,221 3.6% $1,262,730 $229,643 $3,501 0.0047
4 Old Tappan 5,863 3.4% $993,658 $195,833 $3,095 0.0048
5 Little Silver 6,104 3.3% $936,174 $216,974 $3,501 0.0067
6 Waldwick 10,068 2.2% $600,598 $150,861 $1,964 0.0033
7 Cresskill 9,105 3.8% $824,668 $162,430 $2,075 0.0036
8 Florham Park 12,790 3.4% $852,042 $141,620 $2,891 0.0045
9 New Providence 13,595 4.0% $806,187 $167,188 $1,896 0.0043
10 Westfield 30,839 4.0% $1,040,776 $203,235 $2,179 0.0077
11 Wood-Ridge 9,978 4.2% $617,275 $132,901 $1,764 0.0050
12 Haddonfield 12,456 3.4% $698,505 $178,362 $1,711 0.0124
13 River Edge 12,022 3.7% $685,672 $150,073 $1,789 0.0084
14 Madison 16,521 6.9% $906,312 $163,567 $2,168 0.0051
15 Oradell 8,208 3.5% $793,885 $196,023 $1,917 0.0054
16 Westwood 11,241 2.6% $617,848 $160,466 $2,166 0.0041
17 Ridgewood 26,043 3.8% $978,934 $211,224 $2,349 0.0081
18 Fanwood 7,723 4.7% $651,607 $177,727 $2,254 0.0053
19 Glen Rock 12,086 5.7% $857,563 $202,586 $1,909 0.0050
20 North Caldwell 6,625 5.8% $1,001,940 $215,000 $0 0.0039
21 Matawan 9,546 4.3% $563,446 $125,040 $1,759 0.0004
22 Chatham 9,199 6.7% $1,092,337 $250,001 $2,201 0.0074
23 Caldwell 8,897 4.0% $625,878 $117,879 $1,868 0.0046
24 Manasquan 5,921 4.5% $1,004,601 $130,240 $1,408 0.0137
25 Mountainside 6,991 3.4% $851,670 $162,531 $3,501 0.0056
26 Bernardsville 7,888 5.5% $890,901 $220,060 $2,003 0.0034
27 Allendale 6,817 3.6% $891,873 $163,875 $2,589 0.0070
28 Rumson 7,285 5.2% $1,812,105 $250,001 $1,996 0.0058
29 Emerson 7,281 7.5% $655,975 $141,908 $2,024 0.0030
30 Glen Ridge 7,797 6.2% $970,075 $246,429 $2,012 0.0141
31 Norwood 5,657 2.5% $747,730 $156,630 $2,121 0.0046
32 Franklin Lakes 11,007 4.4% $1,396,762 $204,917 $3,053 0.0106
33 Ramsey 14,739 3.0% $705,649 $160,589 $2,134 0.0075
34 Roseland 6,221 5.4% $686,003 $135,451 $3,092 0.0092
35 New Milford 16,888 6.1% $590,506 $107,976 $1,669 0.0036
36 Upper Saddle River 8,313 7.7% $1,204,841 $234,476 $3,501 0.0071
37 Midland Park 7,022 9.1% $623,608 $136,326 $1,750 0.0051
38 Hawthorne 19,456 5.5% $536,528 $105,168 $1,746 0.0082
39 Ringwood 11,692 4.9% $504,128 $141,800 $2,178 0.0018
40 Union Beach 5,751 3.6% $437,728 $124,828 $1,729 0.0017
41 Montvale 8,413 2.9% $787,501 $175,179 $2,038 0.0057
42 Haddon Heights 7,484 4.6% $429,614 $117,556 $1,209 0.0082
43 Fair Lawn 34,948 5.3% $601,965 $141,540 $1,836 0.0078
44 Kinnelon 9,986 8.9% $745,748 $170,905 $2,288 0.0031
45 Rutherford 18,754 3.3% $638,326 $128,576 $1,700 0.0120
46 Oakland 12,734 5.3% $624,707 $162,848 $1,520 0.0047
47 Point Pleasant 19,024 2.8% $625,208 $106,203 $1,920 0.0076
48 Morris Plains 6,104 5.2% $620,521 $144,540 $2,636 0.0131
49 Closter 8,555 3.8% $917,085 $181,652 $2,558 0.0071
50 Tenafly 15,299 7.3% $1,066,620 $207,652 $3,053 0.0065
51 Hoboken 58,754 3.5% $795,620 $168,137 $2,648 0.0165
52 Linwood 6,952 5.4% $417,000 $133,487 $1,780 0.0081
53 Dumont 18,014 5.1% $543,620 $116,708 $1,710 0.0038
54 Edgewater 14,394 4.1% $641,816 $136,806 $2,580 0.0132
55 Maywood 10,040 8.0% $569,144 $119,057 $1,880 0.0115
56 Boonton 8,781 3.9% $567,031 $96,500 $1,637 0.0099
57 Englewood Cliffs 5,347 6.8% $1,437,753 $213,261 $3,501 0.0161
58 Woodcliff Lake 6,096 10.7% $1,021,125 $227,500 $2,120 0.0087
59 Metuchen 14,958 5.0% $566,292 $154,339 $1,933 0.0140
60 Leonia 9,273 4.6% $726,904 $110,679 $1,953 0.0091
61 Northfield 8,432 5.8% $339,039 $103,977 $1,543 0.0063
62 Summit 22,555 5.7% $1,115,201 $176,702 $2,222 0.0092
63 Butler 8,045 4.5% $474,719 $108,378 $1,466 0.0051
64 Roselle Park 13,964 4.3% $481,750 $97,769 $1,455 0.0100
65 Bogota 8,940 6.5% $503,090 $113,260 $1,771 0.0055
66 Audubon 8,695 5.0% $336,856 $103,379 $1,183 0.0312
67 Oceanport 6,119 7.5% $795,055 $132,723 $0 0.0075
68 Watchung 6,417 6.8% $905,582 $157,065 $2,302 0.0457
69 North Haledon 8,801 6.4% $617,950 $128,472 $2,461 0.0044
70 Pompton Lakes 11,052 3.8% $464,830 $113,781 $1,716 0.0068
71 Wanaque 11,217 4.2% $439,505 $108,650 $1,842 0.0029
72 Hasbrouck Heights 12,080 6.2% $603,225 $114,219 $1,587 0.0065
73 Jamesburg 5,783 4.8% $391,126 $112,813 $1,431 0.0022
74 Bergenfield 28,223 6.0% $541,010 $121,738 $1,651 0.0036
75 Rockaway 6,589 9.1% $488,557 $93,750 $1,548 0.0026
76 Somerville 12,467 3.6% $462,875 $102,423 $1,662 0.0121
77 Mount Arlington 5,863 2.5% $462,369 $95,431 $2,230 0.0056
78 Pitman 8,805 6.6% $317,191 $91,566 $1,336 0.0058
79 Ridgefield 11,465 6.9% $677,879 $105,609 $1,782 0.0075
80 Cliffside Park 25,546 3.6% $573,933 $96,734 $1,743 0.0045
81 Highland Park 14,996 6.1% $488,073 $93,927 $1,755 0.0099
82 Raritan 8,301 5.5% $469,041 $99,928 $1,810 0.0099
83 Tinton Falls 19,180 6.2% $530,656 $107,959 $2,133 0.0106
84 Manville 10,892 3.7% $410,651 $85,925 $1,673 0.0126
85 Paramus 26,582 7.6% $866,706 $136,824 $2,648 0.0416
86 Hopatcong 14,411 3.1% $381,593 $107,670 $1,682 0.0029
87 West Long Branch 8,547 7.5% $856,215 $114,036 $1,862 0.0119
88 Beachwood 10,933 4.2% $402,754 $99,099 $2,067 0.0102
89 Totowa 10,975 5.4% $558,674 $112,097 $1,620 0.0213
90 South Plainfield 24,273 7.2% $495,585 $123,417 $1,881 0.0163
91 North Arlington 16,352 5.8% $531,251 $96,869 $1,656 0.0069
92 Bloomingdale 7,726 4.3% $459,891 $125,865 $1,795 0.0036
93 Kenilworth 8,345 8.4% $532,095 $97,600 $1,884 0.0116
94 Palisades Park 20,231 5.8% $844,948 $93,250 $1,897 0.0079
95 Red Bank 12,868 3.2% $594,880 $89,500 $1,886 0.0111
96 Fort Lee 39,799 4.8% $537,880 $101,573 $2,159 0.0151
97 Belmar 5,877 6.8% $853,550 $89,736 $1,722 0.0208
98 Berlin 7,489 1.8% $342,726 $98,706 $1,616 0.0178
99 Woodland Park 13,291 6.1% $546,965 $90,323 $1,709 0.0113
100 Haledon 8,945 5.8% $462,758 $98,462 $1,599 0.0188

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.