Best places to live in New Jersey

Written by:
November 15, 2021
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Best places to live in New Jersey

What do you look for in an ideal town? Proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches? How about top-ranked schools for your children? Would you like a professional or college sports team nearby, or do you prefer museums and art walks?

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.

#10. Monmouth Junction
- Population: 2,906
- Median home value: $433,800 (93% own)
- Median rent: $2,356 (7% rent)
- Median household income: $150,500
- Top public schools: South Brunswick High School (A+), Monmouth Junction Elementary School (A+), Brooks Crossing Elementary School (A)

#9. Glen Rock
- Population: 11,780
- Median home value: $646,600 (95% own)
- Median rent: $1,840 (5% rent)
- Median household income: $187,000
- Top public schools: Alexander Hamilton School (A+), Glen Rock High School (A+), Clara E. Coleman School (A)
- Top private schools: Academy of Our Lady (A)

#8. New Providence
- Population: 13,049
- Median home value: $607,100 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,733 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $143,672
- Top public schools: New Providence High School (A+), New Providence Middle School (A+), Salt Brook Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Academy of Our Lady of Peace (A+), St. Andrew's Nursery School & Kindergarten, Santa Fe Centers

#7. Ho-Ho-Kus
- Population: 4,094
- Median home value: $756,800 (92% own)
- Median rent: $2,453 (8% rent)
- Median household income: $216,875
- Top public schools: Ho-Ho-Kus Public School (A+)

#6. Princeton Meadows
- Population: 13,717
- Median home value: $392,800 (38% own)
- Median rent: $1,653 (62% rent)
- Median household income: $104,245
- Top public schools: West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South (A+), West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North (A+), Community Middle School (A+)

#5. Upper Montclair
- Population: 11,589
- Median home value: $766,100 (83% own)
- Median rent: $2,008 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $211,221
- Top public schools: Montclair High School (A), Watchung School (A), Hillside School (A-)
- Top private schools: Lacordaire Academy Upper School (A+), St. Cassian Elementary School, Lacordaire Academy Lower/Middle School

#4. Mountain Lakes
- Population: 4,270
- Median home value: $867,200 (95% own)
- Median rent: $1,454 (5% rent)
- Median household income: $241,667
- Top public schools: Mountain Lakes High School (A+), Briarcliff Middle School (A+), Wildwood Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: The Craig School, The Academy for Children, Lightbridge Academy of Mountain Lakes

#3. Ridgewood
- Population: 25,179
- Median home value: $763,300 (78% own)
- Median rent: $2,026 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $184,355
- Top public schools: Ridgewood High School (A+), Hawes Elementary School (A+), Ridge Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Windsor Bergen Academy, Holmstead School, Little Crane Montessori School

#2. Princeton
- Population: 31,000
- Median home value: $866,200 (60% own)
- Median rent: $1,532 (40% rent)
- Median household income: $137,672
- Top public schools: Princeton High School (A+), West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South (A+), Princeton Charter School (A+)
- Top private schools: Princeton International School of Math and Science (A+), Princeton Day School (A+), Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (A+)

#1. Princeton Junction
- Population: 2,336
- Median home value: $548,400 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,048 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $231,094
- Top public schools: West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South (A+), West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North (A+), Community Middle School (A+)

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