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
Stat Park Ridge New Jersey
Population 9,218 9,267,014
Rank Last Year 2
Median Home Value $666,200 $427,600
Median Income $165,391 $101,050
Unemployment Rate 2.7% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0025 0.0169

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
Stat Fair Haven New Jersey
Population 6,182 9,267,014
Rank Last Year 3
Median Home Value $943,300 $427,600
Median Income $237,132 $101,050
Unemployment Rate 3.2% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0029 0.0169

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
Stat Hillsdale New Jersey
Population 10,086 9,267,014
Rank Last Year 1
Median Home Value $656,800 $427,600
Median Income $169,862 $101,050
Unemployment Rate 2.9% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0031 0.0169

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
Stat Manasquan New Jersey
Population 5,915 9,267,014
Rank Last Year 24
Median Home Value $947,100 $427,600
Median Income $156,542 $101,050
Unemployment Rate 2.8% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0096 0.0169

More on Manasquan: Data

Waldwick, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Daniel Case | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Waldwick New Jersey
Population 10,090 9,267,014
Rank Last Year 5
Median Home Value $576,200 $427,600
Median Income $155,526 $101,050
Unemployment Rate 2.7% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0024 0.0169

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
Stat Haddonfield New Jersey
Population 12,502 9,267,014
Rank Last Year 14
Median Home Value $708,800 $427,600
Median Income $190,882 $101,050
Unemployment Rate 3.4% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0136 0.0169

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
Stat Oradell New Jersey
Population 8,197 9,267,014
Rank Last Year 15
Median Home Value $702,400 $427,600
Median Income $214,736 $101,050
Unemployment Rate 3.4% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0027 0.0169

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
Stat Fanwood New Jersey
Population 7,714 9,267,014
Rank Last Year 19
Median Home Value $610,600 $427,600
Median Income $176,667 $101,050
Unemployment Rate 2.8% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0044 0.0169

More on Fanwood: Data

Little Silver, NJ

Source: Public domain
Stat Little Silver New Jersey
Population 6,096 9,267,014
Rank Last Year 6
Median Home Value $870,700 $427,600
Median Income $220,746 $101,050
Unemployment Rate 3.1% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0084 0.0169

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
Stat Cresskill New Jersey
Population 9,101 9,267,014
Rank Last Year 7
Median Home Value $764,800 $427,600
Median Income $173,293 $101,050
Unemployment Rate 4.8% 6.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0034 0.0169

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

Rank City Population Unemployment Rate Home Value Median Income Rent Crime Per Capita
1 Park Ridge 9,218 2.7% $666,200 $165,391 $1,995 0.0025
2 Fair Haven 6,182 3.2% $943,300 $237,132 $3,500 0.0029
3 Hillsdale 10,086 2.9% $656,800 $169,862 $1,720 0.0031
4 Manasquan 5,915 2.8% $947,100 $156,542 $1,655 0.0096
5 Waldwick 10,090 2.7% $576,200 $155,526 $3,189 0.0024
6 Haddonfield 12,502 3.4% $708,800 $190,882 $1,783 0.0136
7 Oradell 8,197 3.4% $702,400 $214,736 $2,202 0.0027
8 Fanwood 7,714 2.8% $610,600 $176,667 $2,368 0.0044
9 Little Silver 6,096 3.1% $870,700 $220,746 $3,501 0.0084
10 Cresskill 9,101 4.8% $764,800 $173,293 $2,311 0.0034
11 Franklin Lakes 11,011 2.3% $1,217,500 $230,987 $3,334 0.0053
12 Westfield 30,760 3.5% $930,500 $212,700 $2,211 0.0087
13 Old Tappan 5,896 2.5% $910,600 $199,250 $3,241 0.0042
14 Madison 16,464 6.8% $882,900 $168,469 $2,248 0.0048
15 Ridgewood 26,076 3.5% $882,700 $217,250 $2,340 0.0067
16 Florham Park 13,134 4.6% $722,700 $147,714 $3,009 0.0071
17 Westwood 11,221 2.6% $587,700 $169,026 $2,351 0.0041
18 Midland Park 6,996 8.0% $586,200 $140,063 $1,837 0.0046
19 Glen Rock 12,082 6.1% $817,300 $210,369 $1,938 0.0073
20 Chatham 9,219 5.9% $944,300 $250,001 $2,251 0.0073
21 Mountainside 6,967 2.1% $755,600 $210,100 $3,501 0.0024
22 Emerson 7,263 7.1% $626,000 $153,963 $1,926 0.0022
23 Allendale 6,820 2.7% $764,600 $156,992 $2,648 0.0037
24 Bernardsville 7,871 3.7% $737,600 $231,006 $2,155 0.0044
25 Morris Plains 6,214 4.4% $609,700 $149,623 $2,686 0.0109
26 Woodcliff Lake 6,097 10.2% $901,800 $211,233 $2,629 0.0069
27 Wood-Ridge 10,094 4.7% $532,900 $131,412 $1,886 0.0051
28 Glen Ridge 7,827 6.1% $730,600 $248,016 $2,347 0.0187
29 Ramsey 14,722 2.9% $665,700 $164,767 $2,009 0.0088
30 Union Beach 5,722 3.1% $452,900 $128,400 $1,957 0.0010
31 Caldwell 8,898 4.0% $563,000 $101,196 $1,937 0.0039
32 Hawthorne 19,472 5.0% $499,200 $118,093 $1,828 0.0100
33 Roseland 6,211 5.2% $640,600 $160,644 $3,293 0.0092
34 Point Pleasant 19,158 2.8% $523,400 $108,713 $1,969 0.0047
35 Rumson 7,265 4.8% $1,609,400 $250,001 $2,351 0.0055
36 Oceanport 6,130 4.9% $685,800 $156,196 $1,310 0.0069
37 Fair Lawn 35,153 4.7% $532,700 $147,952 $1,908 0.0097
38 River Edge 12,024 4.7% $637,500 $155,827 $1,811 0.0098
39 Hoboken 58,340 3.4% $872,100 $176,943 $2,819 0.0155
40 New Milford 16,882 6.4% $554,800 $113,513 $1,722 0.0047
41 Tenafly 15,252 7.0% $974,300 $208,088 $3,143 0.0047
42 Oakland 12,700 4.9% $567,200 $162,862 $1,462 0.0035
43 Upper Saddle River 8,354 7.9% $1,101,800 $246,719 $3,501 0.0037
44 Dumont 18,072 3.2% $469,900 $125,585 $1,778 0.0045
45 Montvale 8,625 4.4% $688,500 $183,664 $2,241 0.0096
46 Summit 22,512 4.3% $969,900 $199,107 $2,308 0.0086
47 Matawan 9,636 5.7% $447,000 $122,026 $1,714 0.0001
48 Kinnelon 9,971 9.4% $682,600 $178,102 $2,307 0.0039
49 Metuchen 14,982 5.3% $565,400 $157,779 $2,019 0.0127
50 Kenilworth 8,339 7.1% $521,100 $126,295 $2,119 0.0094
51 Northfield 8,427 2.8% $275,900 $104,042 $1,554 0.0108
52 Audubon 8,699 4.2% $288,500 $116,900 $1,211 0.0444
53 Rutherford 18,748 3.5% $580,800 $136,069 $1,859 0.0127
54 Leonia 9,300 5.6% $634,500 $116,429 $2,149 0.0097
55 Pompton Lakes 11,010 3.9% $411,100 $119,038 $1,822 0.0040
56 Closter 8,544 4.4% $820,100 $187,500 $2,651 0.0115
57 Edgewater 14,544 4.9% $723,400 $137,847 $2,645 0.0133
58 Maywood 10,042 7.2% $495,700 $119,306 $1,932 0.0135
59 North Caldwell 6,622 6.3% $906,100 $203,140 $3,250 0.0268
60 Bergenfield 28,269 5.7% $469,200 $124,083 $1,744 0.0037
61 New Providence 13,577 3.3% $734,300 $162,877 $1,906 0.0401
62 West Long Branch 8,576 6.7% $631,300 $123,661 $1,936 0.0119
63 Linwood 6,954 7.2% $351,100 $135,904 $2,070 0.0108
64 Jamesburg 5,763 4.5% $344,900 $117,719 $1,841 0.0085
65 Hasbrouck Heights 12,067 6.6% $508,500 $118,670 $1,605 0.0049
66 Roselle Park 13,965 4.8% $405,800 $104,418 $1,585 0.0120
67 Watchung 6,429 8.0% $833,300 $166,536 $2,571 0.0381
68 Haddon Heights 7,488 4.8% $354,700 $126,055 $1,195 0.1191
69 Wanaque 11,162 4.1% $366,400 $112,326 $1,885 0.0022
70 Pitman 8,834 6.1% $258,400 $96,199 $1,474 0.0035
71 Butler 8,072 5.0% $425,900 $110,375 $1,455 0.0059
72 Norwood 5,668 1.2% $676,400 $164,766 $2,446 1.6833
73 Mount Arlington 5,901 2.9% $393,400 $99,511 $2,309 0.0056
74 Highland Park 14,981 4.7% $463,600 $101,991 $1,881 0.0143
75 Paramus 26,500 8.0% $736,000 $139,707 $2,845 0.0309
76 Ridgefield 11,439 5.5% $609,700 $115,676 $1,935 0.0108
77 Rockaway 6,589 8.5% $427,800 $100,028 $1,496 0.0049
78 Beachwood 11,002 2.9% $307,500 $102,043 $2,236 0.0120
79 Palisades Park 20,192 5.4% $704,400 $101,295 $1,976 0.0083
80 Barrington 7,047 5.1% $244,400 $84,334 $1,282 0.0096
81 Englewood Cliffs 5,330 4.5% $1,232,700 $222,192 $3,501 1.6833
82 Hopatcong 14,470 3.1% $318,600 $114,057 $1,563 0.0018
83 North Arlington 16,368 6.4% $464,700 $101,493 $1,706 0.0136
84 Somerville 12,958 4.0% $403,600 $103,869 $1,748 0.0381
85 Brigantine 7,702 5.7% $485,000 $88,906 $1,499 0.0116
86 Woodland Park 13,284 6.0% $475,400 $85,638 $1,773 0.0138
87 Totowa 10,919 4.5% $507,700 $114,177 $1,703 0.0331
88 South Plainfield 24,231 7.2% $443,900 $126,063 $1,928 0.0190
89 Berlin 7,503 1.8% $310,000 $101,008 $1,399 0.0167
90 Fort Lee 39,818 5.0% $422,200 $105,535 $2,255 0.0149
91 Boonton 8,803 6.2% $475,300 $100,417 $1,761 0.0309
92 Red Bank 12,864 3.1% $477,000 $101,738 $1,985 0.0137
93 Cliffside Park 25,580 4.8% $577,200 $94,960 $1,783 0.0080
94 Carlstadt 6,343 5.4% $523,800 $94,854 $1,503 0.0197
95 Secaucus 21,437 6.1% $557,800 $134,746 $2,197 0.0348
96 Bogota 9,110 8.0% $443,400 $107,321 $1,893 0.0098
97 Bloomingdale 7,686 4.2% $398,000 $126,221 $1,772 0.0035
98 Lincoln Park 10,901 10.3% $419,500 $119,000 $1,824 0.0084
99 North Haledon 8,757 5.3% $517,200 $131,810 $2,435 0.0331
100 Ringwood 11,600 5.6% $434,800 $142,529 $1,934 0.0331

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.