The 10 Best Small Towns In New Jersey For 2025


The best small towns in New Jersey are Ho-Ho-Kus and Hopewell for 2025 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: October 1, 2025

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in New Jersey. Best sururbs in New Jersey. Best counties in New Jersey.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Garden State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in New Jersey based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in New Jersey ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

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

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In New Jersey For 2025

  1. Ho-Ho-Kus
  2. Hopewell
  3. Bay Head
  4. Mountain Lakes
  5. Essex Fells
  6. Pennington
  7. Plainsboro Center
  8. Shark River Hills
  9. Singac
  10. Spring Lake
  11. West Belmar
  12. Avalon
  13. Brielle
  14. Lambertville
  15. Monmouth Beach

Best Small Towns To Live In New Jersey Map

What’s the best small town in New Jersey? Ho-Ho-Kus is the best small town in New Jersey based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Ho-Ho-Kus, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Garden State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In New Jersey For 2025

1. Ho-Ho-Kus

Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Daniel Case | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 4,230
Median Income: $250,001 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,032,800 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%

2. Hopewell

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,828
Median Income: $142,396 (37th Best)
Median Home Value: $561,900 (48th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%

3. Bay Head

Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 1,201
Median Income: $145,417 (30th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,679,000 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

4. Mountain Lakes

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 4,535
Median Income: $250,001 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $915,100 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%

5. Essex Fells

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 2,320
Median Income: $250,001 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $976,300 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%

6. Pennington

Pennington, NJ

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 2,798
Median Income: $171,282 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $608,200 (43rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%

7. Plainsboro Center

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,683
Median Income: $117,363 (68th Best)
Median Home Value: $474,300 (64th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.7%

8. Shark River Hills

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,035
Median Income: $133,193 (44th Best)
Median Home Value: $482,800 (60th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

9. Singac

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 3,987
Median Income: $116,136 (70th Best)
Median Home Value: $416,200 (77th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%

10. Spring Lake

Spring Lake, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Dmadeo | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,782
Median Income: $146,976 (27th Best)
Median Home Value: $2,000,001 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%

11. West Belmar

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,682
Median Income: $113,083 (72nd Best)
Median Home Value: $490,000 (58th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

12. Avalon

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,478
Median Income: $143,482 (33rd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,756,100 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

13. Brielle

Brielle, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Nightscream | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 4,960
Median Income: $167,754 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $815,100 (25th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 7.7%

14. Lambertville

Lambertville, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,141
Median Income: $106,236 (89th Best)
Median Home Value: $534,100 (50th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%

15. Monmouth Beach

Monmouth Beach, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image’s Commons talk page or my English Wikipedia talk page; I’ll know about it a lot faster) | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 3,201
Median Income: $140,074 (39th Best)
Median Home Value: $918,100 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In New Jersey

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in New Jersey possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 193 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 193, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in New Jersey. Top of that list — Ho-Ho-Kus.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in New Jersey.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in New Jersey are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in New Jersey are Ho-Ho-Kus, Hopewell, Bay Head, Mountain Lakes, Essex Fells, Pennington, Plainsboro Center, Shark River Hills, Singac, and Spring Lake.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in New Jersey:

  1. Seabrook Farms
  2. Oxford
  3. Presidential Lakes Estates

For more New Jersey reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In New Jersey

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 4,230 $250,001 1.9%
2 Hopewell, NJ 1,828 $142,396 1.4%
3 Bay Head, NJ 1,201 $145,417 0.9%
4 Mountain Lakes, NJ 4,535 $250,001 2.1%
5 Essex Fells, NJ 2,320 $250,001 3.9%
6 Pennington, NJ 2,798 $171,282 2.5%
7 Plainsboro Center, NJ 2,683 $117,363 3.7%
8 Shark River Hills, NJ 3,035 $133,193 2.4%
9 Singac, NJ 3,987 $116,136 3.4%
10 Spring Lake, NJ 2,782 $146,976 2.8%
11 West Belmar, NJ 2,682 $113,083 1.2%
12 Avalon, NJ 1,478 $143,482 2.4%
13 Brielle, NJ 4,960 $167,754 7.7%
14 Lambertville, NJ 4,141 $106,236 3.2%
15 Monmouth Beach, NJ 3,201 $140,074 4.0%
16 Barclay, NJ 4,456 $162,241 3.6%
17 Medford Lakes, NJ 4,267 $151,190 3.6%
18 Haworth, NJ 3,321 $227,841 2.8%
19 Vista Center, NJ 2,235 $131,194 2.1%
20 Richwood, NJ 3,453 $206,685 4.5%
21 Lavallette, NJ 1,836 $120,938 1.7%
22 Mendham, NJ 4,977 $223,750 3.2%
23 Sea Girt, NJ 1,978 $206,000 4.8%
24 Cranbury, NJ 2,304 $230,703 4.0%
25 Avon-By-The-Sea, NJ 1,801 $109,113 7.1%
26 Wanamassa, NJ 4,344 $167,712 2.8%
27 Harrington Park, NJ 4,883 $180,515 4.1%
28 Peapack And Gladstone, NJ 2,547 $184,231 1.5%
29 Island Heights, NJ 1,691 $107,308 3.2%
30 Riverton, NJ 2,771 $126,818 3.4%
31 Shrewsbury, NJ 4,162 $144,500 5.0%
32 Ship Bottom, NJ 1,009 $111,250 2.5%
33 Fairview, NJ 3,950 $170,395 5.2%
34 Clinton, NJ 2,784 $142,563 2.5%
35 Demarest, NJ 4,916 $175,078 5.9%
36 Turnersville, NJ 3,071 $156,176 3.9%
37 Wenonah, NJ 2,248 $130,473 4.8%
38 Alle, NJ 1,926 $134,583 4.8%
39 Northvale, NJ 4,782 $117,717 5.4%
40 Oakhurst, NJ 3,811 $142,727 5.5%
41 Pine Beach, NJ 2,378 $121,333 3.5%
42 Saddle River, NJ 3,358 $236,985 9.6%
43 Lawrenceville, NJ 3,947 $118,482 9.1%
44 Spring Lake Heights, NJ 4,866 $102,829 4.8%
45 Bradley Beach, NJ 4,264 $94,722 2.1%
46 Sea Isle City, NJ 2,079 $98,860 3.5%
47 Navesink, NJ 1,904 $145,708 8.6%
48 Surf City, NJ 1,225 $118,333 5.7%
49 Alpine, NJ 1,503 $250,001 7.1%
50 Atlantic Highlands, NJ 4,409 $125,438 4.3%
51 Ten Mile Run, NJ 2,288 $158,491 4.3%
52 Beach Haven, NJ 1,096 $114,868 3.2%
53 Leonardo, NJ 2,342 $122,216 4.0%
54 Chester, NJ 1,359 $152,578 3.8%
55 Woodbury Heights, NJ 3,116 $130,101 1.9%
56 North Middletown, NJ 3,081 $146,650 4.8%
57 Cape May, NJ 2,789 $57,230 2.5%
58 Dover Beaches South, NJ 1,520 $105,536 4.4%
59 Port Reading, NJ 3,775 $142,986 4.7%
60 Laurel Springs, NJ 2,025 $120,795 4.7%
61 Garwood, NJ 4,688 $100,948 6.0%
62 Six Mile Run, NJ 3,185 $141,181 1.6%
63 Califon, NJ 1,065 $130,938 3.7%
64 Sea Bright, NJ 1,657 $127,738 4.3%
65 North Beach Haven, NJ 2,282 $109,353 11.6%
66 Country Lake Estates, NJ 4,700 $124,636 1.7%
67 Annandale, NJ 1,751 $149,886 11.3%
68 Ocean Gate, NJ 1,768 $75,278 3.3%
69 White House Station, NJ 3,758 $85,000 6.2%
70 Mullica Hill, NJ 4,561 $133,750 5.3%
71 Bordentown, NJ 4,006 $91,208 5.3%
72 Ocean Grove, NJ 2,916 $74,410 5.5%
73 Lake Como, NJ 1,660 $83,056 6.2%
74 Roosevelt, NJ 1,059 $112,614 3.3%
75 Barnegat, NJ 3,367 $105,091 7.3%
76 Far Hills, NJ 1,004 $152,188 4.7%
77 Weston, NJ 2,111 $86,595 5.5%
78 Whittingham, NJ 2,516 $75,764 2.4%
79 Port Republic, NJ 1,047 $130,417 7.9%
80 Oaklyn, NJ 3,934 $81,514 2.6%
81 Netcong, NJ 3,543 $92,596 2.0%
82 Cliffwood Beach, NJ 3,044 $108,854 5.4%
83 Stanhope, NJ 3,551 $134,583 4.1%
84 Princeton Junction, NJ 1,842 $219,375 7.8%
85 Riverdale, NJ 4,084 $96,667 1.3%
86 Wildwood Crest, NJ 3,094 $82,143 10.6%
87 Byram Center, NJ 2,018 $122,639 5.3%
88 Lebanon, NJ 1,664 $108,672 2.8%
89 Middlebush, NJ 2,017 $178,125 11.1%
90 Moonachie, NJ 3,106 $108,359 4.1%
91 Seaside Park, NJ 1,804 $83,333 5.0%
92 Farmingdale, NJ 1,399 $97,574 13.1%
93 Newfield, NJ 1,811 $105,000 1.0%
94 Alloway, NJ 1,473 $138,260 3.8%
95 Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 4,826 $131,641 6.9%
96 Panther Valley, NJ 4,622 $128,484 8.6%
97 Long Valley, NJ 2,107 $106,528 1.3%
98 Sewaren, NJ 3,196 $106,926 6.3%
99 Frenc, NJ 1,609 $107,969 5.5%
100 Hamburg, NJ 3,293 $90,655 3.8%
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.

 Best Small Towns