You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in New Jersey. Best suburbs 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.
$119,317 median income · 2.9% unemployment
$250,001 median income · 1.7% unemployment
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$215,625 median income · 2.4% unemployment
$250,001 median income · 2.4% unemployment
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$145,114 median income · 2.1% unemployment
$250,001 median income · 5.5% unemployment
$192,586 median income · 2.4% unemployment
$216,196 median income · 1.3% unemployment
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$150,188 median income · 4.7% unemployment
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$141,188 median income · 3.4% unemployment
Data | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is New Jersey’s statewide median.
New Jersey statewide median: $103,556
New Jersey statewide median: $569,411
New Jersey statewide median: 6.3%
On the map
Where New Jersey’s best small towns are
Saturday Night Science
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 2020-2024 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 – 191 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 191, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in New Jersey. Top of that list — Plainsboro Center.
This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live in New Jersey.
The full plate
Best Small Towns In New Jersey
Click any column to sort. Search by town name.
| Rank | Town | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plainsboro Center | 2,773 | $119,317 | $605,626 | 2.9% |
| 2 | Ho-Ho-Kus | 4,270 | $250,001 | $1,369,018 | 1.7% |
| 3 | Spring Lake | 2,779 | $215,625 | $1,417,246 | 2.4% |
| 4 | Mountain Lakes | 4,585 | $250,001 | $1,190,632 | 2.4% |
| 5 | Hopewell | 1,823 | $145,114 | $735,072 | 2.1% |
| 6 | Essex Fells | 2,361 | $250,001 | $1,438,414 | 5.5% |
| 7 | Pennington | 2,827 | $192,586 | $675,381 | 2.4% |
| 8 | Richwood | 3,197 | $216,196 | $744,470 | 1.3% |
| 9 | Monmouth Beach | 3,207 | $150,188 | $1,107,170 | 4.7% |
| 10 | Medford Lakes | 4,297 | $141,188 | $538,427 | 3.4% |
| 11 | Brielle | 4,956 | $172,250 | $1,263,557 | 6.6% |
| 12 | Vista Center | 2,133 | $135,828 | $688,581 | 0.0% |
| 13 | Bay Head | 1,205 | $181,667 | $2,461,270 | 1.5% |
| 14 | Shark River Hills | 2,974 | $139,524 | $655,875 | 4.6% |
| 15 | Avalon | 1,488 | $139,167 | $2,678,387 | 3.9% |
| 16 | Haworth | 3,363 | $236,765 | $1,191,256 | 2.5% |
| 17 | Cranbury | 2,185 | $224,200 | $1,008,499 | 3.9% |
| 18 | Navesink | 1,867 | $151,557 | $947,222 | 2.1% |
| 19 | Singac | 4,207 | $104,519 | $535,577 | 3.1% |
| 20 | Avon-by-the-Sea | 2,030 | $122,635 | $1,891,688 | 8.7% |
| 21 | Sea Girt | 1,980 | $213,750 | $2,397,645 | 4.5% |
| 22 | Oakhurst | 3,538 | $145,893 | $1,007,290 | 5.1% |
| 23 | Island Heights | 1,720 | $109,231 | $614,961 | 2.6% |
| 24 | Lawrenceville | 3,924 | $122,614 | $516,154 | 7.5% |
| 25 | Barclay | 4,607 | $163,365 | $584,198 | 2.5% |
| 26 | Lavallette | 1,865 | $133,056 | $1,164,082 | 2.6% |
| 27 | Lambertville | 4,153 | $109,733 | $642,510 | 6.1% |
| 28 | Mendham | 4,973 | $211,944 | $1,027,296 | 3.4% |
| 29 | Riverton | 2,770 | $121,198 | $461,356 | 4.0% |
| 30 | Shrewsbury | 4,179 | $178,958 | $942,549 | 4.6% |
| 31 | Dover Beaches South | 1,601 | $144,844 | $944,090 | 4.6% |
| 32 | Pine Beach | 2,306 | $142,920 | $560,327 | 4.0% |
| 33 | Demarest | 4,911 | $208,036 | $1,462,793 | 7.1% |
| 34 | Fairview | 3,892 | $165,135 | $654,535 | 5.3% |
| 35 | Peapack and Gladstone | 2,571 | $202,578 | $1,088,698 | 3.0% |
| 36 | Annandale | 1,568 | $168,043 | $632,693 | 4.1% |
| 37 | Leonardo | 2,493 | $138,125 | $659,756 | 4.8% |
| 38 | Alle | 1,702 | $120,714 | $520,791 | 3.7% |
| 39 | Harrington Park | 4,954 | $180,500 | $967,522 | 3.3% |
| 40 | Clinton | 2,789 | $141,146 | $515,873 | 1.8% |
| 41 | Beach Haven | 1,055 | $144,167 | $1,710,953 | 2.5% |
| 42 | Northvale | 4,829 | $127,625 | $751,343 | 6.3% |
| 43 | Saddle River | 3,389 | $212,143 | $2,270,388 | 7.3% |
| 44 | Ten Mile Run | 2,492 | $162,868 | $889,955 | 3.8% |
| 45 | West Belmar | 2,862 | $108,629 | $665,775 | 3.9% |
| 46 | Surf City | 1,195 | $118,750 | $1,604,028 | 5.3% |
| 47 | Wanamassa | 4,279 | $140,972 | $714,395 | 3.8% |
| 48 | Spring Lake Heights | 4,861 | $106,758 | $903,614 | 4.8% |
| 49 | Bradley Beach | 4,158 | $97,005 | $1,086,518 | 2.7% |
| 50 | Turnersville | 3,136 | $145,104 | $464,902 | 3.9% |
| 51 | Wenonah | 2,261 | $131,667 | $363,038 | 5.2% |
| 52 | Chester | 1,512 | $171,500 | $826,799 | 2.8% |
| 53 | North Wildwood | 3,602 | $90,833 | $576,303 | 4.3% |
| 54 | Atlantic Highlands | 4,410 | $126,080 | $816,439 | 3.9% |
| 55 | Point Pleasant Beach | 4,855 | $141,716 | $1,068,548 | 5.6% |
| 56 | Long Valley | 1,720 | $133,229 | $725,605 | 1.0% |
| 57 | Six Mile Run | 2,882 | $140,379 | $602,368 | 1.0% |
| 58 | Woodbury Heights | 3,117 | $123,083 | $366,621 | 1.7% |
| 59 | White House Station | 3,963 | $110,483 | $569,411 | 6.5% |
| 60 | Princeton Junction | 2,025 | $224,732 | $1,001,473 | 6.8% |
| 61 | Lebanon | 1,675 | $110,104 | $469,163 | 2.5% |
| 62 | West Cape May | 1,011 | $91,250 | $941,207 | 0.2% |
| 63 | Riverdale | 4,112 | $102,950 | $484,267 | 0.8% |
| 64 | North Beach Haven | 2,277 | $111,332 | $1,438,189 | 12.0% |
| 65 | Alpine | 1,588 | $246,944 | $3,046,850 | 6.4% |
| 66 | Barnegat | 3,360 | $108,664 | $494,292 | 5.5% |
| 67 | Sea Isle City | 2,000 | $108,359 | $1,479,241 | 7.1% |
| 68 | Lake Como | 1,619 | $82,045 | $849,583 | 6.5% |
| 69 | Ocean Grove | 3,092 | $89,286 | $990,079 | 4.2% |
| 70 | Byram Center | 2,188 | $132,857 | $459,764 | 4.6% |
| 71 | Alloway | 1,455 | $140,962 | $289,632 | 0.0% |
| 72 | Cape May | 2,767 | $62,576 | $714,348 | 3.4% |
| 73 | Bordentown | 4,026 | $103,375 | $432,948 | 5.6% |
| 74 | Mullica Hill | 4,591 | $131,250 | $594,703 | 5.0% |
| 75 | Kingston | 1,670 | $110,813 | $596,353 | 4.3% |
| 76 | Sea Bright | 1,718 | $143,241 | $1,024,100 | 6.0% |
| 77 | North Cape May | 3,731 | $86,962 | $492,846 | 4.4% |
| 78 | Whittingham | 2,480 | $77,550 | $525,051 | 2.3% |
| 79 | Garwood | 4,885 | $110,670 | $683,642 | 7.1% |
| 80 | Laurel Springs | 2,044 | $118,750 | $335,130 | 5.5% |
| 81 | Olivet | 1,573 | $128,849 | $426,933 | 5.4% |
| 82 | Flemington | 4,896 | $69,978 | $641,007 | 1.2% |
| 83 | Waretown | 2,076 | $121,538 | $544,193 | 5.4% |
| 84 | Hamburg | 3,308 | $86,975 | $395,522 | 4.0% |
| 85 | Stanhope | 3,552 | $139,205 | $438,948 | 3.6% |
| 86 | Farmingdale | 1,449 | $89,327 | $808,235 | 11.2% |
| 87 | Middlebush | 2,049 | $156,938 | $629,184 | 14.5% |
| 88 | Sewaren | 3,248 | $108,948 | $531,116 | 5.7% |
| 89 | Brownville | 2,377 | $89,769 | $505,001 | 1.8% |
| 90 | Oaklyn | 3,947 | $84,394 | $342,692 | 4.1% |
| 91 | Cliffwood Beach | 3,056 | $116,500 | $458,135 | 5.7% |
| 92 | Ocean Gate | 1,599 | $69,397 | $439,574 | 3.9% |
| 93 | Alpha | 2,436 | $90,333 | $327,687 | 2.4% |
| 94 | Seaside Park | 1,793 | $84,375 | $839,164 | 5.2% |
| 95 | Englis | 1,989 | $91,111 | $638,958 | 3.7% |
| 96 | Oak Valley | 4,413 | $93,472 | $304,003 | 0.3% |
| 97 | Weston | 2,105 | $83,197 | $687,704 | 4.7% |
| 98 | Wildwood Crest | 3,077 | $69,089 | $740,460 | 10.7% |
| 99 | Crandon Lakes | 1,293 | $94,167 | $356,258 | 1.2% |
| 100 | Port Reading | 3,511 | $134,479 | $544,566 | 5.7% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024 via Saturday Night Science. 191 New Jersey towns between 1,000 and 5,000 residents.
Summary
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 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 Plainsboro Center, Ho-Ho-Kus, Spring Lake, Mountain Lakes, Hopewell, Essex Fells, Pennington, Richwood, Monmouth Beach, and Medford Lakes. Not sold on New Jersey? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Small Towns In New Jersey FAQs
What is the best small town to live in New Jersey?
Plainsboro Center is the best small town in New Jersey for 2026. The median household income there is $119,317 and the median home costs $605,626. Ho-Ho-Kus and Spring Lake round out the top three.
What are the best small towns in New Jersey?
The best small towns in New Jersey are Plainsboro Center, Ho-Ho-Kus, Spring Lake, Mountain Lakes, Hopewell, Essex Fells, Pennington, Richwood, Monmouth Beach, and Medford Lakes. We ranked all 191 New Jersey towns with between 1,000 and 5,000 residents.
What counts as a small town?
For this ranking, a small town is any New Jersey place with between 1,000 and 5,000 residents. 191 towns fit that window this year.
How do you rank the best small towns in New Jersey?
Each town is scored on density, unemployment, housing costs, income, education, insurance coverage, and commute times, using Census American Community Survey data. The town with the best average across all of it, Plainsboro Center, takes the top spot.
How much does a home cost in Plainsboro Center?
The median home in Plainsboro Center runs $605,626, against $569,411 across New Jersey as a whole. Pair that with a $119,317 median household income, and you can see why it ranks so well.
