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.
Thankfully, we decided this question needed to be answered once and for all. So we turned to data and analytics to understand the best place to live in New Jersey.
In particular, we looked at home prices, crime rates, unemployment, and other quality-of-life factors for every city and town across the state. You know, the things that people from New Jersey would find important when looking for a new place to live.
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.
After analyzing over 177 places in New Jersey<, we came up with this list of the best places in the Garden State to call home.
The 10 Best Places To Live In New Jersey For 2023
There you have it; the ten best places New Jersey has to offer when finding a place to live.
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 and Census data. The places with low unemployment and high incomes like Park Ridge outmatched their short commute counterparts.
However, there’s no better state in the nation than New Jersey, so any place inside the state boundaries is a great place to live.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the best states in America or the best places to live in America.
For more New Jersey reading, check out:
- Best Counties To Live In New Jersey
- Cheapest Places To Live In New Jersey
- Best Places To Raise A Family In New Jersey
Article Table Of Contents
The 10 best places to live In New Jersey for 2023
/10
| Population | 8,987 |
| Rank Last Year | 1 |
| Median Home Value | $609,500 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.5% |
Coming in as the best place to live in New Jersey is Park Ridge, a borough of 8,987 located about a half-hour north of Newark.
For starters, Park Ridge ranked as one of the safest places in New Jersey, recording the 3rd 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 $168,269, and the median home price here is $609,500.
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.
More on Park Ridge: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
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| Population | 12,024 |
| Rank Last Year | 3 |
| Median Home Value | $549,500 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.4% |
Located in Bergen County, River Edge ranks as the 2nd best place to live in New Jersey. With a population of 12,024, River Edge offers a low cost of living and a high quality of life. The median home price in the area is $549,500, making it an attractive option for families and individuals looking for affordable housing options, at least in New Jersey.
River Edge is considered one of the best places to live in New Jersey because it offers easy access to nearby cities like New York City and Hoboken. And as my boss used to say, better to be in New Jersey looking at NYC than in NYC looking at New Jersey.
More on River Edge: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
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| Population | 12,655 |
| Rank Last Year | 16 |
| Median Home Value | $626,100 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% |
Florham Park, located in Morris County, New Jersey, is ranked as the number 3 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 $626,100, 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.
More on Florham Park: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
/10
| Population | 10,166 |
| Rank Last Year | 4 |
| Median Home Value | $582,200 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% |
Hillsdale, another borough located in Bergen County, ranks as the number 4 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.
More on Hillsdale: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
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| Population | 5,870 |
| Rank Last Year | 28 |
| Median Home Value | $805,400 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% |
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.
More on Old Tappan: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
/10
| Population | 10,086 |
| Rank Last Year | 8 |
| Median Home Value | $483,200 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.0% |
We’re sticking around Bergen County for our 6th best place to live in New Jersey, Waldwick. At $483,200, homes in Waldwick are some of the cheapest you’ll find on this list. Residents still enjoy a high median household income of $132,315/year, which helps give Waldwick the second lowest cost of living among the cities we’re covering here. And an unemployment rate of 2.0% is the 3rd lowest in New Jersey. Just 2.7% 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.
More on Waldwick: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
/10
| Population | 9,096 |
| Rank Last Year | 18 |
| Median Home Value | $676,400 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% |
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 $155,515 and the median home value is $676,400. 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.
More on Cresskill: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
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| Population | 13,570 |
| Rank Last Year | 6 |
| Median Home Value | $632,100 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% |
New Providence, located in Union County, is the number 8 best place to live in the Garden State. With a median home price of $632,100 and a median rent of 1,844, 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.
More on New Providence: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
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| Population | 6,103 |
| Rank Last Year | 12 |
| Median Home Value | $709,100 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% |
Located in Monmouth County, New Jersey, Little Silver is ranked as the 9th best place to live in the state. With a population of 6,103 and a median income of 212,069, 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.
More on Little Silver: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
/10
| Population | 8,236 |
| Rank Last Year | 38 |
| Median Home Value | $661,900 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% |
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 $661,900, making it an attractive option for those looking to settle down in a charming community without breaking the bank. Moreover, the area’s excellent schools and high median income contribute to a thriving community and a high quality of life.
More on Oradell: Real Estate | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
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 90,097 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 left us with 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 to have over 5,000 people to truly be ‘the best’.
Now we also realize that city living might not be your cup of tea, so we ran the same analysis on the best towns and then again for the best small towns.
You can see the results of those best place rankings at the end of the article.
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.
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, with the city posting the lowest overall score being crowned the winner of the title “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 better)
- Unemployment Rate
- Commute Time
- Crime
- Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty rates
Sources of criteria include the New Census Data and FBI Crime Data. You can download the best places data here.
After the dust settled, what was the best place to live in New Jersey? That would be Park Ridge.
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.
Park Ridge made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in New Jersey for 2023.
Best Towns To Live In New Jersey
- Plainsboro Center (Pop. 2,733)
- Brielle (Pop. 4,745)
- Allenwood (Pop. 1,002)
- Barclay (Pop. 4,340)
- Ho-Ho-Kus (Pop. 4,139)
- Pennington (Pop. 2,567)
- Spring Lake Heights (Pop. 4,646)
- Robbinsville (Pop. 3,321)
- Navesink (Pop. 1,699)
- Hopewell (Pop. 1,904)
Best Small Towns To Live In New Jersey
- Skillman (Pop. 211)
- Belle Mead (Pop. 196)
- East Rocky Hill (Pop. 223)
- Hainesburg (Pop. 59)
- Blawenburg (Pop. 305)
- Interlaken (Pop. 806)
- Mantoloking (Pop. 276)
- Loch Arbour (Pop. 202)
- Clyde (Pop. 243)
- Rocky Hill (Pop. 618)
If you’re curious enough, here are the worst places to live in New Jersey according to the data:
- Camden (Pop. 72,381)
- Bridgeton (Pop. 26,643)
- Salem (Pop. 5,237)
For more New Jersey reading, check out:
- Best Places To Retire In New Jersey
- Richest Cities In New Jersey
- Safest Places In New Jersey
- Worst Places To Live In New Jersey
Best Places To Live In New Jersey
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Park Ridge | 8,987 |
| 2 | River Edge | 12,024 |
| 3 | Florham Park | 12,655 |
| 4 | Hillsdale | 10,166 |
| 5 | Old Tappan | 5,870 |
| 6 | Waldwick | 10,086 |
| 7 | Cresskill | 9,096 |
| 8 | New Providence | 13,570 |
| 9 | Little Silver | 6,103 |
| 10 | Oradell | 8,236 |
| 11 | Glen Rock | 12,098 |
| 12 | Ridgewood | 25,991 |
| 13 | Haddonfield | 12,383 |
| 14 | Fair Haven | 6,235 |
| 15 | Westfield | 30,950 |
| 16 | Madison | 16,819 |
| 17 | Ramsey | 14,801 |
| 18 | Midland Park | 7,041 |
| 19 | Chatham | 9,208 |
| 20 | North Caldwell | 6,633 |
| 21 | Rumson | 7,292 |
| 22 | Westwood | 11,267 |
| 23 | Franklin Lakes | 11,034 |
| 24 | Roseland | 6,240 |
| 25 | Hawthorne | 19,507 |
| 26 | Fanwood | 7,727 |
| 27 | Caldwell | 8,800 |
| 28 | Upper Saddle River | 8,352 |
| 29 | Woodcliff Lake | 6,112 |
| 30 | Montvale | 8,413 |
| 31 | Allendale | 6,820 |
| 32 | Haddon Heights | 7,453 |
| 33 | Mountainside | 7,003 |
| 34 | Emerson | 7,317 |
| 35 | Wood-Ridge | 9,865 |
| 36 | Manasquan | 5,930 |
| 37 | Norwood | 5,666 |
| 38 | Matawan | 9,486 |
| 39 | Glen Ridge | 7,764 |
| 40 | Morris Plains | 6,081 |
| 41 | Hoboken | 59,369 |
| 42 | Oakland | 12,773 |
| 43 | Linwood | 6,957 |
| 44 | Maywood | 10,049 |
| 45 | Hasbrouck Heights | 12,120 |
| 46 | Edgewater | 14,234 |
| 47 | Dumont | 17,965 |
| 48 | Fair Lawn | 34,820 |
| 49 | Tenafly | 15,307 |
| 50 | Bernardsville | 7,862 |
| 51 | Bogota | 8,830 |
| 52 | Rutherford | 18,781 |
| 53 | Leonia | 9,283 |
| 54 | Kinnelon | 9,994 |
| 55 | Englewood Cliffs | 5,358 |
| 56 | Metuchen | 14,883 |
| 57 | Point Pleasant | 18,839 |
| 58 | Watchung | 6,483 |
| 59 | Ringwood | 11,778 |
| 60 | Butler | 8,019 |
| 61 | Closter | 8,573 |
| 62 | Wanaque | 11,285 |
| 63 | Audubon | 8,693 |
| 64 | Pompton Lakes | 11,113 |
| 65 | New Milford | 16,912 |
| 66 | Somerville | 12,453 |
| 67 | Highland Park | 14,947 |
| 68 | Beachwood | 10,863 |
| 69 | Summit | 22,598 |
| 70 | Union Beach | 5,781 |
| 71 | Mount Arlington | 5,812 |
| 72 | Northfield | 8,419 |
| 73 | Roselle Park | 13,973 |
| 74 | Bergenfield | 28,282 |
| 75 | Carlstadt | 6,358 |
| 76 | North Haledon | 8,893 |
| 77 | Jamesburg | 5,784 |
| 78 | Hopatcong | 14,395 |
| 79 | Totowa | 11,013 |
| 80 | North Arlington | 16,339 |
| 81 | Tinton Falls | 19,053 |
| 82 | Oceanport | 6,115 |
| 83 | Boonton | 8,770 |
| 84 | South Plainfield | 24,251 |
| 85 | Rockaway | 6,587 |
| 86 | Paramus | 26,650 |
| 87 | Ridgefield | 11,477 |
| 88 | Raritan | 7,993 |
| 89 | Lincoln Park | 10,877 |
| 90 | West Long Branch | 8,470 |
| 91 | Manville | 10,861 |
| 92 | Berlin | 7,484 |
| 93 | Barrington | 7,031 |
| 94 | Cliffside Park | 25,515 |
| 95 | Little Ferry | 10,973 |
| 96 | Pitman | 8,812 |
| 97 | Fort Lee | 39,701 |
| 98 | East Rutherford | 9,918 |
| 99 | Bound Brook | 11,799 |
| 100 | Wallington | 11,833 |
