Best counties to raise a family in New Jersey

Written by:
September 19, 2025
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Best counties to raise a family in New Jersey

For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in New Jersey using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.

The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.

#21. Cumberland County

- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C-), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 152,915
- Median household income: $64,499
- Median home value: $205,600
- Top places to live: Hopewell Township (B-), Stow Creek Township (B-), Vineland (C+)

#20. Salem County

- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 64,973
- Median household income: $78,412
- Median home value: $223,000
- Top places to live: Woodstown (B+), Mannington Township (B+), Pilesgrove Township (B)

#19. Passaic County

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (C+), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 518,289
- Median household income: $87,137
- Median home value: $439,400
- Top places to live: Wayne Township (A), Ringwood (A-), Pompton Lakes (A-)

#18. Ocean County

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 646,434
- Median household income: $86,411
- Median home value: $366,600
- Top places to live: Point Pleasant Beach (A), Bay Head (A), Beach Haven (A)

#17. Essex County

- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (C+), cost of living (D+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 854,130
- Median household income: $76,712
- Median home value: $494,400
- Top places to live: Glen Ridge (A+), Upper Montclair (A+), Livingston Township (A+)

#16. Warren County

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (C), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 110,238
- Median household income: $99,596
- Median home value: $323,100
- Top places to live: Brass Castle (A-), Beattystown (B+), Panther Valley (B)

#15. Cape May County

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 95,236
- Median household income: $88,046
- Median home value: $395,000
- Top places to live: Avalon (A), Ocean City (A), Cape May (A-)

#14. Atlantic County

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 274,704
- Median household income: $76,819
- Median home value: $272,700
- Top places to live: Linwood (A), Northfield (A), Margate City (A-)

#13. Sussex County

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 145,117
- Median household income: $114,316
- Median home value: $342,800
- Top places to live: Lake Mohawk (A-), Stanhope (A-), Andover Township (A-)

#12. Camden County

- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B-), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 524,042
- Median household income: $86,384
- Median home value: $262,200
- Top places to live: Haddonfield (A+), Springdale (A+), Greentree (A+)

#11. Gloucester County

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 304,504
- Median household income: $102,807
- Median home value: $283,500
- Top places to live: Mullica Hill (A), Wenonah (A), Richwood (A-)

#10. Hudson County

- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (C+), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 710,478
- Median household income: $90,032
- Median home value: $508,600
- Top places to live: Hoboken (A+), Secaucus (A+), Waterfront (A+)

#9. Union County

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 572,549
- Median household income: $100,117
- Median home value: $488,800
- Top places to live: Summit (A+), Berkeley Heights Township (A+), New Providence (A+)

#8. Burlington County

- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 464,226
- Median household income: $105,271
- Median home value: $326,700
- Top places to live: Moorestown Township (A+), Chesterfield Township (A+), Medford Township (A)

#7. Hunterdon County

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 129,448
- Median household income: $139,453
- Median home value: $498,800
- Top places to live: Raritan Township (A+), Clinton (A), Bethlehem Township (A)

#6. Monmouth County

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 643,615
- Median household income: $122,727
- Median home value: $566,500
- Top places to live: Fair Haven (A+), Little Silver (A+), Robertsville (A+)

#5. Mercer County

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 383,286
- Median household income: $96,333
- Median home value: $351,000
- Top places to live: Princeton (A+), Princeton Junction (A+), Pennington (A+)

#4. Morris County

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 510,375
- Median household income: $134,929
- Median home value: $557,000
- Top places to live: Mountain Lakes (A+), Chatham Township (A+), Madison (A+)

#3. Middlesex County

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 861,535
- Median household income: $109,028
- Median home value: $439,300
- Top places to live: Metuchen (A+), Plainsboro Center (A+), Cranbury (A+)

#2. Bergen County

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 954,717
- Median household income: $123,715
- Median home value: $593,200
- Top places to live: Ho-Ho-Kus (A+), Ridgewood (A+), River Edge (A+)

#1. Somerset County

- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 346,203
- Median household income: $135,960
- Median home value: $523,900
- Top places to live: Bernardsville (A+), Montgomery Township (A+), Green Brook Township (A+)

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