Welcome to the happiest places in New Jersey.
Using Saturday Night Science and data, we determined the cities and towns with the most rainbows, butterflies, puppies, and unicorns.
You know, the places where people have jobs, white-picked fences, and friendly neighbors – unicorn cities.
After analyzing the 266 largest cities, we happily present the happiest cities in the Garden State.
17.0% married households · 9.8% poverty · #1 happiest in New Jersey
Ocean City is by far the happiest place in the state of New Jersey. Let’s see why.
First off, having a solid family life is a good indication of how happy someone is. Lots of the residents of Ocean City aren’t missing out on love; more than 17% of them are married. Plus, the average commute time here is only about 27 minutes each way. That means a lot more time with the spouse and kids.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
24.0% married households · 8.7% poverty · #2 happiest in New Jersey
Located in
Morris County, New Jersey
Things look to be pretty pleasant in Florham Park. Crime is really low here, and the percentage of married residents (24%) mean there’s lots of stability at home.
In addition to those factors, there is a thriving amount of community involvement. Studies have shown that a key factor to happiness is when people volunteer, especially in their own neighborhoods.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
24.0% married households · 8.0% poverty · #3 happiest in New Jersey
Located in
Somerset County, New Jersey
The people who live in Raritan have a lot going for them. 44% of them have college degrees, and they command some of the highest salaries in NJ. 24% of the people here are married.
Most of these all tops in the entire state.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
37.0% married households · 3.0% poverty · #4 happiest in New Jersey
Located in
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Manasquan is where you can bet there are lots of smiley and happy people all over town. Crime is essentially something that just doesn’t happen here very often. And when you can let your guard down and relax a little, the lack of stress really makes a difference.
Same goes on the job front. Only 2.7% of residents here are out of work. Sounds like there are jobs for just about everyone who wants one. Which must be a good feeling to have.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
38.0% married households · 4.5% poverty · #5 happiest in New Jersey
Located in
Ocean County, New Jersey
If you want to see a bunch of happy people, go to Point Pleasant. It seriously looks like something out of a commercial.
They have a 29 minute commute time, which means lots more time with the kids.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
14.0% married households · 6.3% poverty · #6 happiest in New Jersey
For those who say that money doesn’t buy happiness, you’re half right. Studies have shown that people are happy up to a certain point when it comes to annual salaries, somewhere around $72,000 a year. After that, it doesn’t matter how much you make, you’re not going to be much happier.
The residents of Margate City have that covered. Plus about 14% of households are married.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
29.0% married households · 3.4% poverty · #7 happiest in New Jersey
Most of the people in Beach Haven West have to be ‘plum’ happy. True happiness is ‘Home Sweet Home’ with your kids and spouse, being reminded to do chores, run errands and fold the clothes right.
16.0% married households · 7.3% poverty · #8 happiest in New Jersey
Less than 4.6% of the residents in Franklin Center are jobless, which is just about as low as you’ll see.
Incomes are steady, and commute times are really low as well. That really takes away the stress factors that stop folks from relaxing and enjoying their ‘down time’ to do the little things that matter: Walks in the park, time alone with a book and extra face time with the children.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
25.0% married households · 11.9% poverty · #9 happiest in New Jersey
Located in
Passaic County, New Jersey
About 38% of residents in Bloomingdale, NJ have a college degree. While we’ve all heard the saying, ‘Ignorance is bliss,’ our argument is: Ignorance is also broke.
Not only are most of the residents of Bloomingdale smart, they’re safe, too.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
21.0% married households · 8.0% poverty · #10 happiest in New Jersey
Located in
Essex County, New Jersey
In Caldwell, most of the population is married, and most own their own homes.
The commute times (29 minutes each way) might eventually start to turn the corners of those smiles sideways.
But for now, it’s all roses in Caldwell.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | 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: $569,411
New Jersey statewide median: 9.7%
On the map
Where the happiest places in New Jersey are
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Measured The Happiest Cities In The Garden State
To rank the happiest places in New Jersey, we had to determine what criteria make people happy. It isn’t a stretch to assume that happy people earn great salaries, are relatively stress-free, and have a stable home life.
So we went to the Census’s American Community Survey 2020-2024 report for the happy criteria, added some Saturday Night Science, and generated the answer.
Here are the criteria we used to measure happiness:
- Percentage of residents with a college degree
- Average commute times
- Unemployment rates
- Cost of living
- % of married couples
- % of families with kids
- Poverty rate
After we decided on the criteria, we gathered the data for the 266 places in New Jersey with over 5,000 people.
We then ranked each place from one to 266 for each of the seven criteria, with a score of one being the happiest.
Next, we averaged the seven rankings into a Happy Index for each place with the lowest overall Happy Index “earning” the title “Happiest City In New Jersey.”
If you’d like to see the complete list of cities, happiest to saddest, scroll to the bottom of this post to see the unabridged chart.
We updated this article for 2026, and it’s our eleventh time ranking the happiest cities in New Jersey.
The full plate
Happiest Cities In New Jersey For 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Happy Index | Population | Poverty Level | Median Home Value | % Married | % Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocean City | 64.29 | 11,261 | 9.8% | $1,099,877 | 17.0% | 16.6% |
| 2 | Florham Park | 70.93 | 13,564 | 8.7% | $1,025,256 | 24.0% | 27.3% |
| 3 | Raritan | 74.21 | 8,368 | 8.0% | $545,696 | 24.0% | 20.6% |
| 4 | Manasquan | 78.93 | 5,922 | 3.0% | $1,158,873 | 37.0% | 24.0% |
| 5 | Point Pleasant | 82.50 | 19,334 | 4.5% | $733,630 | 38.0% | 29.0% |
| 6 | Margate City | 83.07 | 5,234 | 6.3% | $1,097,066 | 14.0% | 14.9% |
| 7 | Beach Haven West | 85.00 | 5,120 | 3.4% | $804,118 | 29.0% | 11.6% |
| 8 | Franklin Center | 86.00 | 6,646 | 7.3% | $766,901 | 16.0% | 20.7% |
| 9 | Bloomingdale | 87.79 | 7,716 | 11.9% | $547,974 | 25.0% | 22.8% |
| 10 | Caldwell | 89.57 | 9,003 | 8.0% | $724,635 | 21.0% | 26.1% |
| 11 | Asbury Park | 91.07 | 15,295 | 21.9% | $686,057 | 13.0% | 19.0% |
| 12 | Morris Plains | 92.43 | 6,315 | 3.2% | $727,186 | 30.0% | 28.6% |
| 13 | Boonton | 92.79 | 8,854 | 8.1% | $667,780 | 29.0% | 30.6% |
| 14 | Morristown | 92.79 | 20,453 | 7.8% | $887,262 | 11.0% | 24.7% |
| 15 | Westwood | 93.50 | 11,283 | 7.1% | $755,182 | 21.0% | 33.1% |
| 16 | Middlesex | 95.14 | 14,645 | 11.3% | $536,277 | 27.0% | 30.5% |
| 17 | Brigantine | 95.86 | 7,674 | 9.4% | $697,787 | 18.0% | 9.4% |
| 18 | Pompton Lakes | 96.50 | 11,047 | 8.4% | $548,025 | 31.0% | 31.1% |
| 19 | Belmar | 96.79 | 5,869 | 7.7% | $1,009,846 | 23.0% | 13.4% |
| 20 | Park Ridge | 96.93 | 9,406 | 1.5% | $845,038 | 24.0% | 30.9% |
| 21 | Tinton Falls | 97.00 | 19,361 | 6.7% | $624,719 | 29.0% | 22.9% |
| 22 | Red Bank | 98.36 | 12,862 | 8.7% | $693,365 | 17.0% | 20.9% |
| 23 | Somerville | 98.36 | 13,410 | 5.9% | $542,519 | 21.0% | 25.7% |
| 24 | Barrington | 98.71 | 7,076 | 7.4% | $364,664 | 28.0% | 18.9% |
| 25 | Hillsdale | 100.00 | 10,144 | 2.2% | $843,788 | 28.0% | 35.4% |
| 26 | Hoboken | 100.29 | 58,668 | 7.8% | $855,399 | 10.0% | 18.4% |
| 27 | Carlstadt | 100.36 | 6,378 | 9.0% | $656,613 | 27.0% | 18.9% |
| 28 | Hamilton Square | 100.43 | 11,622 | 2.2% | $497,483 | 38.0% | 26.9% |
| 29 | Haddon Heights | 100.57 | 7,516 | 2.5% | $493,148 | 29.0% | 26.6% |
| 30 | Bernardsville | 100.79 | 7,916 | 1.1% | $1,003,867 | 33.0% | 36.5% |
| 31 | Northfield | 101.21 | 8,456 | 4.6% | $388,519 | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 32 | Midland Park | 101.50 | 7,019 | 2.8% | $732,465 | 34.0% | 24.4% |
| 33 | Butler | 101.71 | 8,133 | 8.7% | $549,895 | 26.0% | 27.5% |
| 34 | Waldwick | 102.00 | 10,164 | 1.4% | $738,299 | 29.0% | 37.9% |
| 35 | Totowa | 103.29 | 10,959 | 4.1% | $659,952 | 28.0% | 35.0% |
| 36 | Little Silver | 103.29 | 6,105 | 1.2% | $1,110,500 | 38.0% | 33.6% |
| 37 | Cape May Court House | 103.43 | 5,628 | 17.0% | $446,405 | 28.0% | 23.2% |
| 38 | Highland Park | 104.71 | 15,121 | 7.5% | $585,369 | 9.0% | 23.0% |
| 39 | Roseland | 105.64 | 6,268 | 2.5% | $819,880 | 29.0% | 28.9% |
| 40 | Hawthorne | 105.79 | 19,628 | 4.0% | $629,474 | 26.0% | 30.3% |
| 41 | Manville | 106.50 | 10,921 | 11.7% | $476,361 | 20.0% | 24.6% |
| 42 | Rockaway | 107.21 | 6,613 | 6.2% | $561,517 | 34.0% | 28.2% |
| 43 | Wildwood | 107.64 | 5,130 | 13.7% | $630,657 | 20.0% | 21.1% |
| 44 | Collingswood | 108.00 | 14,205 | 9.5% | $448,586 | 18.0% | 24.0% |
| 45 | Golden Triangle | 108.64 | 5,765 | 8.0% | $401,495 | 12.0% | 21.3% |
| 46 | Moorestown-Lenola | 108.79 | 14,625 | 7.1% | $728,931 | 24.0% | 35.0% |
| 47 | Mountainside | 110.00 | 7,049 | 3.7% | $1,043,568 | 32.0% | 38.3% |
| 48 | North Caldwell | 110.07 | 6,656 | 1.7% | $1,133,696 | 36.0% | 37.1% |
| 49 | Franklin Lakes | 111.71 | 11,084 | 3.4% | $1,557,852 | 25.0% | 41.2% |
| 50 | Smithville | 111.71 | 9,545 | 9.8% | $349,867 | 16.0% | 16.4% |
| 51 | West Long Branch | 112.14 | 8,586 | 3.4% | $959,620 | 26.0% | 29.6% |
| 52 | Mercerville | 112.43 | 13,535 | 3.2% | $449,364 | 37.0% | 31.0% |
| 53 | Ramsey | 112.50 | 14,805 | 4.3% | $863,404 | 19.0% | 35.5% |
| 54 | Mount Arlington | 113.00 | 5,935 | 4.9% | $529,938 | 24.0% | 17.6% |
| 55 | Eato | 113.00 | 13,575 | 4.4% | $617,029 | 21.0% | 23.7% |
| 56 | Haddonfield | 113.14 | 12,595 | 3.1% | $830,377 | 24.0% | 50.0% |
| 57 | Martinsville | 113.50 | 11,559 | 1.4% | $902,737 | 31.0% | 37.1% |
| 58 | Wanaque | 113.50 | 11,206 | 5.9% | $507,937 | 21.0% | 21.7% |
| 59 | Green Knoll | 113.71 | 6,789 | 3.3% | $748,229 | 23.0% | 35.5% |
| 60 | Audubon | 114.07 | 8,730 | 2.9% | $376,496 | 28.0% | 27.8% |
| 61 | Palisades Park | 114.36 | 20,290 | 9.4% | $987,743 | 4.0% | 24.0% |
| 62 | Long Branch | 114.71 | 32,530 | 15.5% | $795,839 | 15.0% | 25.7% |
| 63 | East Rutherford | 115.14 | 10,313 | 7.4% | $635,546 | 17.0% | 31.3% |
| 64 | Oradell | 115.50 | 8,235 | 3.6% | $975,412 | 22.0% | 44.8% |
| 65 | Oakland | 116.50 | 12,768 | 3.1% | $750,020 | 31.0% | 36.8% |
| 66 | Echelon | 116.57 | 13,284 | 10.6% | $411,770 | 13.0% | 27.3% |
| 67 | Ringwood | 116.57 | 11,657 | 2.5% | $596,571 | 32.0% | 26.6% |
| 68 | White Horse | 117.07 | 10,507 | 2.6% | $386,207 | 31.0% | 25.9% |
| 69 | Ashland | 117.86 | 9,320 | 6.4% | $421,294 | 24.0% | 26.7% |
| 70 | Wood-Ridge | 118.07 | 10,218 | 6.9% | $709,508 | 21.0% | 30.6% |
| 71 | Marlton | 118.57 | 10,922 | 3.7% | $427,434 | 18.0% | 22.1% |
| 72 | Emerson | 118.86 | 7,305 | 3.1% | $780,190 | 29.0% | 32.7% |
| 73 | Oceanport | 119.00 | 6,195 | 4.1% | $910,435 | 37.0% | 30.3% |
| 74 | North Haledon | 119.14 | 8,778 | 3.3% | $712,134 | 30.0% | 31.9% |
| 75 | Beckett | 119.86 | 5,017 | 8.7% | $392,723 | 19.0% | 31.4% |
| 76 | Rumson | 119.93 | 7,241 | 3.2% | $2,183,827 | 27.0% | 38.4% |
| 77 | Succasunna | 119.93 | 9,799 | 2.2% | $650,100 | 32.0% | 33.5% |
| 78 | Dumont | 120.14 | 18,279 | 6.6% | $666,365 | 18.0% | 30.9% |
| 79 | Ventnor City | 120.29 | 9,265 | 10.1% | $633,017 | 13.0% | 15.3% |
| 80 | Hight | 120.43 | 5,920 | 2.1% | $429,314 | 25.0% | 26.2% |
| 81 | Woodland Park | 120.57 | 13,355 | 3.8% | $648,176 | 17.0% | 29.4% |
| 82 | Ridgewood | 120.93 | 26,308 | 4.2% | $1,200,489 | 18.0% | 43.6% |
| 83 | Madison | 122.43 | 16,447 | 3.2% | $990,723 | 18.0% | 36.1% |
| 84 | Millville | 122.50 | 27,511 | 12.5% | $252,661 | 28.0% | 24.9% |
| 85 | Mystic Island | 122.79 | 8,259 | 16.1% | $402,873 | 27.0% | 21.2% |
| 86 | Fanwood | 123.29 | 7,799 | 1.0% | $791,728 | 23.0% | 32.5% |
| 87 | Morganville | 123.50 | 5,902 | 3.5% | $851,870 | 12.0% | 30.1% |
| 88 | Beachwood | 123.50 | 11,088 | 4.5% | $462,369 | 32.0% | 28.8% |
| 89 | Matawan | 123.64 | 9,710 | 10.5% | $645,512 | 21.0% | 31.9% |
| 90 | Colonia | 123.71 | 18,587 | 7.4% | $635,209 | 25.0% | 32.5% |
| 91 | Roselle Park | 123.86 | 14,093 | 6.6% | $538,084 | 16.0% | 28.8% |
| 92 | Rutherford | 124.14 | 18,894 | 5.5% | $738,683 | 20.0% | 34.7% |
| 93 | Newton | 124.21 | 8,369 | 15.1% | $437,913 | 27.0% | 28.0% |
| 94 | Toms River | 124.29 | 94,956 | 5.8% | $456,692 | 27.0% | 29.1% |
| 95 | West Freehold | 124.50 | 14,883 | 4.0% | $662,893 | 20.0% | 34.2% |
| 96 | New Providence | 124.86 | 13,727 | 2.1% | $990,084 | 20.0% | 37.7% |
| 97 | Norwood | 124.93 | 5,724 | 2.8% | $898,894 | 14.0% | 36.9% |
| 98 | Bellmawr | 125.57 | 11,737 | 9.6% | $310,586 | 21.0% | 29.4% |
| 99 | Clementon | 125.79 | 5,410 | 10.8% | $309,207 | 27.0% | 26.0% |
| 100 | Absecon | 126.57 | 9,170 | 7.9% | $343,434 | 26.0% | 32.0% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. 266 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
There You Have It – The Happiest Cities In New Jersey
As we said earlier, trying to determine the most miserable cities in New Jersey is usually a subjective matter.
But if you’re analyzing cities where people are not stable, where you’re stuck in traffic, and no one spent the time to go to college, then this is an accurate list.
The happiest cities in New Jersey are Ocean City, Florham Park, Raritan, Manasquan, Point Pleasant, Margate City, Beach Haven West, Franklin Center, Bloomingdale, and Caldwell.
