Best places to live in New Jersey
An ideal town or neighborhood looks different for everyone.
Those who can't get enough of the outdoors may prioritize proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches, while parents are looking for places with top-ranked schools for their children. Culture lovers might want to live in a city with museums and art walks, whereas sports fans look for professional or college sports teams nearby.
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in New Jersey using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums.
Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
CORRECTION: A previously published version of this piece, in some cases, incorrectly listed private schools as public schools.
#30. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 817
- Population: 8,313
- Median household income: $234,476
- Median home value: $1,029,700 (89% own)
- Median rent: $3,501 (11% rent)
- Top public schools: Bergen County Academies (grade A+), Northern Highlands Regional High School (grade A+), Emil A. Cavallini Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Primoris Academy (grade A+), Bergen Catholic High School (grade A+), Saddle River Day School (grade A+)
#29. Verona Township, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,879
- Population: 14,438
- Median household income: $153,236
- Median home value: $577,100 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,939 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Bradford Elementary School (grade A minus), Buzz Aldrin Middle School (grade A minus), The Gray Charter School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Newark Academy (grade A+), Pioneer Academy (grade A+), Golda Och Academy (grade A+)
#28. Warren Township, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 864
- Population: 15,874
- Median household income: $191,875
- Median home value: $862,400 (88% own)
- Median rent: $2,032 (12% rent)
- Top public schools: Union County Magnet High School (grade A+), Academy for Information Technology (grade A+), Academy for Allied Health Science (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Pingry School (grade A+), Newark Academy (grade A+), Rutgers Preparatory School (grade A+)
#27. Watchung, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 2,043
- Population: 6,417
- Median household income: $157,065
- Median home value: $792,400 (87% own)
- Median rent: $2,302 (13% rent)
- Top public schools: Union County Magnet High School (grade A+), Academy for Information Technology (grade A+), Academy for Allied Health Science (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Pingry School (grade A+), Newark Academy (grade A+), Rutgers Preparatory School (grade A+)
#26. Wayne Township, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 2,148
- Population: 54,143
- Median household income: $147,740
- Median home value: $565,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $2,038 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: The Academy for Mathematics, Science & Engineering (grade A+), Bergen County Academies (grade A+), Bergen County Technical High School - Teterboro (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Pioneer Academy (grade A+), Morristown Beard School (grade A+), Montclair Kimberley Academy (grade A+)
#25. Westfield, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 573
- Population: 30,839
- Median household income: $203,235
- Median home value: $890,000 (80% own)
- Median rent: $2,179 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Union County Magnet High School (grade A+), Academy for Information Technology (grade A+), Academy for Allied Health Science (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Pingry School (grade A+), The Wardlaw + Hartridge School (grade A+), Kent Place School (grade A+)
#24. Westwood, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 888
- Population: 11,241
- Median household income: $160,466
- Median home value: $535,900 (65% own)
- Median rent: $2,166 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Bergen County Academies (grade A+), Bergen County Technical High School - Teterboro (grade A+), Applied Technology High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Primoris Academy (grade A+), Bergen Catholic High School (grade A+), Saddle River Day School (grade A+)
#23. Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,803
- Population: 6,096
- Median household income: $227,500
- Median home value: $891,300 (89% own)
- Median rent: $2,120 (11% rent)
- Top public schools: Bergen County Academies (grade A+), Bergen County Technical High School - Teterboro (grade A+), Dorchester Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Primoris Academy (grade A+), Bergen Catholic High School (grade A+), Saddle River Day School (grade A+)
#22. Clinton, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 2,231
- Population: 2,775
- Median household income: $137,688
- Median home value: $413,400 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,466 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: North Hunterdon High School (grade A), Clinton Public School (grade A minus), Clinton Township Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Pingry School (grade A+), Immaculata High School (grade A), Immaculate Conception School (grade A+)
#21. Linwood, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 2,131
- Population: data not available
- Median household income: data not available
- Median home value: data not available (data not available own)
- Median rent: data not available (data not available rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools:
#20. Cranbury, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,848
- Population: 2,430
- Median household income: $202,250
- Median home value: $749,100 (87% own)
- Median rent: $1,712 (13% rent)
- Top public schools: Hatikvah International Charter School (grade A+), The Cranbury School (grade A), Mercer County Technical School Health Sciences Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Peddie School (grade A+), The Wilberforce School (grade A+), Noor-Ul-Iman School (grade A+)
#19. Chesterfield Township, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,742
- Population: 9,144
- Median household income: $188,611
- Median home value: $505,300 (95% own)
- Median rent: $2,165 (5% rent)
- Top public schools: Bucks County Montessori Charter School (grade A+), Chesterfield Elementary School (grade A), Mercer County Technical School Health Sciences Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Lawrenceville School (grade A+), The Peddie School (grade A+), Villa Victoria Academy (grade A+)
#18. Hopewell, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,732
- Population: 1,825
- Median household income: $137,138
- Median home value: $509,700 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,672 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Princeton Charter School (grade A+), Hopewell Valley Central High School (grade A+), Mercer County Technical School Stem Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: Princeton International School of Math and Science (grade A+), The Lawrenceville School (grade A+), Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (grade A+)
#17. Waterfront, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,666
- Population: 45,401
- Median household income: $191,715
- Median home value: $895,290 (18% own)
- Median rent: $3,217 (82% rent)
- Top public schools: Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School (grade A+), High Tech High School (grade A+), MS 915 - Bridges: A school for Exploration and Equity (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Collegiate School (grade A+), Avenues The World School (grade A+), BASIS Independent Brooklyn (grade A+)
#16. Peapack and Gladstone, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,647
- Population: 2,561
- Median household income: $183,125
- Median home value: $826,900 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,832 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Unity Charter School (grade A+), Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (grade A), Bernards High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Pingry School (grade A+), Delbarton School (grade A+), Gill St. Bernard's School (grade A+)
#15. Manasquan, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,641
- Population: 5,921
- Median household income: $130,240
- Median home value: $865,600 (87% own)
- Median rent: $1,408 (13% rent)
- Top public schools: Academy of Allied Health & Science (grade A+), Communications High School (grade A+), Manasquan High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Hillel Yeshiva School (grade A), St. Rose High School (grade A minus), Calvary Academy (grade B+)
#14. East Brunswick Township, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,606
- Population: 49,462
- Median household income: $138,003
- Median home value: $461,600 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,877 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Biotechnology High School (grade A+), Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics, & Engineering Technologies (grade A+), Hatikvah International Charter School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Peddie School (grade A+), Rutgers Preparatory School (grade A+), The Wilberforce School (grade A+)
#13. Iselin, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,604
- Population: 18,511
- Median household income: $109,646
- Median home value: $369,700 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,999 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Union County Magnet High School (grade A+), Academy for Information Technology (grade A+), Academy for Allied Health Science (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Rutgers Preparatory School (grade A+), The Wardlaw + Hartridge School (grade A+), Overlake Preparatory Academy (grade A+)
#12. Raritan Township, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,555
- Population: 23,649
- Median household income: $155,925
- Median home value: $522,900 (88% own)
- Median rent: $1,897 (12% rent)
- Top public schools: Mercer County Technical School Stem Academy (grade A), Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (grade A), North Hunterdon High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Pennington School (grade A+), Solebury School (grade A+), Immaculata High School (grade A)
#11. Lawrenceville, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,473
- Population: 3,759
- Median household income: $115,577
- Median home value: $365,300 (86% own)
- Median rent: $1,874 (14% rent)
- Top public schools: Princeton Charter School (grade A+), Bucks County Montessori Charter School (grade A+), Mercer County Technical School Stem Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: Princeton International School of Math and Science (grade A+), The Lawrenceville School (grade A+), Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (grade A+)
#10. Hopewell Township, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,250
- Population: 17,521
- Median household income: $178,631
- Median home value: $530,700 (87% own)
- Median rent: $1,987 (13% rent)
- Top public schools: Princeton Charter School (grade A+), J. Witherspoon Middle School (grade A+), Hopewell Valley Central High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Princeton International School of Math and Science (grade A+), The Lawrenceville School (grade A+), Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (grade A+)
#9. Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,139
- Population: 43,007
- Median household income: $152,818
- Median home value: $504,200 (83% own)
- Median rent: $2,191 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Princeton Charter School (grade A+), Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (grade A), Village Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Princeton International School of Math and Science (grade A+), The Pingry School (grade A+), Rutgers Preparatory School (grade A+)
#8. Robbinsville, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 1,025
- Population: 2,836
- Median household income: $169,327
- Median home value: $430,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,622 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Robbinsville High School (grade A), Sharon Elementary School (grade A), Pond Road Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Lawrenceville School (grade A+), The Peddie School (grade A+), Villa Victoria Academy (grade A+)
#7. Princeton Meadows, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 980
- Population: 15,585
- Median household income: $120,758
- Median home value: $584,500 (41% own)
- Median rent: $1,847 (59% rent)
- Top public schools: West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South (grade A+), West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North (grade A+), Princeton Charter School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Princeton International School of Math and Science (grade A+), The Lawrenceville School (grade A+), The Peddie School (grade A+)
#6. Belle Mead, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 886
- Population: 5,867
- Median household income: $203,942
- Median home value: $673,300 (64% own)
- Median rent: $2,559 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Princeton Charter School (grade A+), Montgomery High School (grade A+), Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Princeton International School of Math and Science (grade A+), Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (grade A+), Princeton Day School (grade A+)
#5. Pennington, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 847
- Population: 2,780
- Median household income: $166,957
- Median home value: $563,000 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,862 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Princeton Charter School (grade A+), Hopewell Valley Central High School (grade A+), Mercer County Technical School Stem Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: Princeton International School of Math and Science (grade A+), The Lawrenceville School (grade A+), Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (grade A+)
#4. Plainsboro Center, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 761
- Population: 2,766
- Median household income: $112,629
- Median home value: $461,200 (32% own)
- Median rent: $1,839 (68% rent)
- Top public schools: West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North (grade A+), Princeton Charter School (grade A+), Town Center Elementary School at Plainsboro (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Princeton International School of Math and Science (grade A+), The Lawrenceville School (grade A+), The Peddie School (grade A+)
#3. Montgomery Township, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 370
- Population: 23,558
- Median household income: $224,185
- Median home value: $700,800 (85% own)
- Median rent: $1,984 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: Littlebrook Elementary School (grade A+), Princeton Charter School (grade A+), Montgomery High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Princeton International School of Math and Science (grade A+), The Lawrenceville School (grade A+), Rutgers Preparatory School (grade A+)
#2. Princeton Junction, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 64
- Population: 2,022
- Median household income: $209,554
- Median home value: $633,700 (79% own)
- Median rent: $1,286 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South (grade A+), West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North (grade A+), Princeton Charter School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Princeton International School of Math and Science (grade A+), The Lawrenceville School (grade A+), The Peddie School (grade A+)
#1. Princeton, New Jersey
- Overall Rank: 39
- Population: 30,450
- Median household income: $176,695
- Median home value: $971,200 (59% own)
- Median rent: $2,320 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South (grade A+), Princeton High School (grade A+), Littlebrook Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Princeton International School of Math and Science (grade A+), The Lawrenceville School (grade A+), The Peddie School (grade A+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 42 states.
