The 10 Best Small Towns In New Jersey For 2026


The best small towns in New Jersey are Plainsboro Center and Ho-Ho-Kus for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026

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 2026

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

Best Small Towns To Live In New Jersey Map

What’s the best small town in New Jersey? Plainsboro Center 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 Plainsboro Center, 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 2026

1. Plainsboro Center

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,773
Median Income: $119,317 (65th Best)
Median Home Value: $605,625 (66th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%

2. Ho-Ho-Kus

Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Daniel Case | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 4,270
Median Income: $250,001 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,369,017 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%

3. Spring Lake

Spring Lake, NJ

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

6
/10

Population: 2,779
Median Income: $215,625 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,417,246 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

4. Mountain Lakes

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 4,585
Median Income: $250,001 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,190,631 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

5. Hopewell

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,823
Median Income: $145,114 (30th Best)
Median Home Value: $735,071 (45th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%

6. Essex Fells

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 2,361
Median Income: $250,001 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,438,414 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.5%

7. Pennington

Pennington, NJ

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 2,827
Median Income: $192,586 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $675,381 (53rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

8. Richwood

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 3,197
Median Income: $216,196 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $744,469 (43rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

9. 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: 3,207
Median Income: $150,188 (28th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,107,169 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.7%

10. Medford Lakes

Medford Lakes, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Mr. Matté | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 4,297
Median Income: $141,188 (37th Best)
Median Home Value: $538,426 (85th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%

11. Brielle

Brielle, NJ

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

10
/10

Population: 4,956
Median Income: $172,250 (19th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,263,557 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.6%

12. Vista Center

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,133
Median Income: $135,828 (46th Best)
Median Home Value: $688,581 (50th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

13. Bay Head

Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 1,205
Median Income: $181,667 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $2,461,269 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%

14. Shark River Hills

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,974
Median Income: $139,524 (42nd Best)
Median Home Value: $655,875 (57th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.6%

15. Avalon

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,488
Median Income: $139,167 (44th Best)
Median Home Value: $2,678,387 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%

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 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.

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 Plainsboro Center, Ho-Ho-Kus, Spring Lake, Mountain Lakes, Hopewell, Essex Fells, Pennington, Richwood, Monmouth Beach, and Medford Lakes.

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

  1. Victory Lakes
  2. Seabrook Farms
  3. Oxford

For more New Jersey reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In New Jersey

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Plainsboro Center, NJ 2,773 $119,317 2.9%
2 Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 4,270 $250,001 1.7%
3 Spring Lake, NJ 2,779 $215,625 2.4%
4 Mountain Lakes, NJ 4,585 $250,001 2.4%
5 Hopewell, NJ 1,823 $145,114 2.1%
6 Essex Fells, NJ 2,361 $250,001 5.5%
7 Pennington, NJ 2,827 $192,586 2.4%
8 Richwood, NJ 3,197 $216,196 1.3%
9 Monmouth Beach, NJ 3,207 $150,188 4.7%
10 Medford Lakes, NJ 4,297 $141,188 3.4%
11 Brielle, NJ 4,956 $172,250 6.6%
12 Vista Center, NJ 2,133 $135,828 0.0%
13 Bay Head, NJ 1,205 $181,667 1.5%
14 Shark River Hills, NJ 2,974 $139,524 4.6%
15 Avalon, NJ 1,488 $139,167 3.9%
16 Haworth, NJ 3,363 $236,765 2.5%
17 Cranbury, NJ 2,185 $224,200 3.9%
18 Navesink, NJ 1,867 $151,557 2.1%
19 Singac, NJ 4,207 $104,519 3.1%
20 Avon-By-The-Sea, NJ 2,030 $122,635 8.7%
21 Sea Girt, NJ 1,980 $213,750 4.5%
22 Oakhurst, NJ 3,538 $145,893 5.1%
23 Island Heights, NJ 1,720 $109,231 2.6%
24 Lawrenceville, NJ 3,924 $122,614 7.5%
25 Barclay, NJ 4,607 $163,365 2.5%
26 Lavallette, NJ 1,865 $133,056 2.6%
27 Lambertville, NJ 4,153 $109,733 6.1%
28 Mendham, NJ 4,973 $211,944 3.4%
29 Riverton, NJ 2,770 $121,198 4.0%
30 Shrewsbury, NJ 4,179 $178,958 4.6%
31 Dover Beaches South, NJ 1,601 $144,844 4.6%
32 Pine Beach, NJ 2,306 $142,920 4.0%
33 Demarest, NJ 4,911 $208,036 7.1%
34 Fairview, NJ 3,892 $165,135 5.3%
35 Peapack And Gladstone, NJ 2,571 $202,578 3.0%
36 Annandale, NJ 1,568 $168,043 4.1%
37 Leonardo, NJ 2,493 $138,125 4.8%
38 Alle, NJ 1,702 $120,714 3.7%
39 Harrington Park, NJ 4,954 $180,500 3.3%
40 Clinton, NJ 2,789 $141,146 1.8%
41 Beach Haven, NJ 1,055 $144,167 2.5%
42 Northvale, NJ 4,829 $127,625 6.3%
43 Saddle River, NJ 3,389 $212,143 7.3%
44 Ten Mile Run, NJ 2,492 $162,868 3.8%
45 West Belmar, NJ 2,862 $108,629 3.9%
46 Surf City, NJ 1,195 $118,750 5.3%
47 Wanamassa, NJ 4,279 $140,972 3.8%
48 Spring Lake Heights, NJ 4,861 $106,758 4.8%
49 Bradley Beach, NJ 4,158 $97,005 2.7%
50 Turnersville, NJ 3,136 $145,104 3.9%
51 Wenonah, NJ 2,261 $131,667 5.2%
52 Chester, NJ 1,512 $171,500 2.8%
53 North Wildwood, NJ 3,602 $90,833 4.3%
54 Atlantic Highlands, NJ 4,410 $126,080 3.9%
55 Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 4,855 $141,716 5.6%
56 Long Valley, NJ 1,720 $133,229 1.0%
57 Six Mile Run, NJ 2,882 $140,379 1.0%
58 Woodbury Heights, NJ 3,117 $123,083 1.7%
59 White House Station, NJ 3,963 $110,483 6.5%
60 Princeton Junction, NJ 2,025 $224,732 6.8%
61 Lebanon, NJ 1,675 $110,104 2.5%
62 West Cape May, NJ 1,011 $91,250 0.2%
63 Riverdale, NJ 4,112 $102,950 0.8%
64 North Beach Haven, NJ 2,277 $111,332 12.0%
65 Alpine, NJ 1,588 $246,944 6.4%
66 Barnegat, NJ 3,360 $108,664 5.5%
67 Sea Isle City, NJ 2,000 $108,359 7.1%
68 Lake Como, NJ 1,619 $82,045 6.5%
69 Ocean Grove, NJ 3,092 $89,286 4.2%
70 Byram Center, NJ 2,188 $132,857 4.6%
71 Alloway, NJ 1,455 $140,962 0.0%
72 Cape May, NJ 2,767 $62,576 3.4%
73 Bordentown, NJ 4,026 $103,375 5.6%
74 Mullica Hill, NJ 4,591 $131,250 5.0%
75 Kingston, NJ 1,670 $110,813 4.3%
76 Sea Bright, NJ 1,718 $143,241 6.0%
77 North Cape May, NJ 3,731 $86,962 4.4%
78 Whittingham, NJ 2,480 $77,550 2.3%
79 Garwood, NJ 4,885 $110,670 7.1%
80 Laurel Springs, NJ 2,044 $118,750 5.5%
81 Olivet, NJ 1,573 $128,849 5.4%
82 Flemington, NJ 4,896 $69,978 1.2%
83 Waretown, NJ 2,076 $121,538 5.4%
84 Hamburg, NJ 3,308 $86,975 4.0%
85 Stanhope, NJ 3,552 $139,205 3.6%
86 Farmingdale, NJ 1,449 $89,327 11.2%
87 Middlebush, NJ 2,049 $156,938 14.5%
88 Sewaren, NJ 3,248 $108,948 5.7%
89 Brownville, NJ 2,377 $89,769 1.8%
90 Oaklyn, NJ 3,947 $84,394 4.1%
91 Cliffwood Beach, NJ 3,056 $116,500 5.7%
92 Ocean Gate, NJ 1,599 $69,397 3.9%
93 Alpha, NJ 2,436 $90,333 2.4%
94 Seaside Park, NJ 1,793 $84,375 5.2%
95 Englis, NJ 1,989 $91,111 3.7%
96 Oak Valley, NJ 4,413 $93,472 0.3%
97 Weston, NJ 2,105 $83,197 4.7%
98 Wildwood Crest, NJ 3,077 $69,089 10.7%
99 Crandon Lakes, NJ 1,293 $94,167 1.2%
100 Port Reading, NJ 3,511 $134,479 5.7%
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