Best places to live in New Jersey (2026)

All 25 ranked places in New Jersey, by all-round score. 1 other place without FBI crime data is on the places list.

Ranked by an all-round score: the average of all 14 quality scores (housing costs, taxes, jobs, healthcare, education, family life, safety, natural disasters, climate and more), weighted equally. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out, since their safety is unknown. Scores are out of 100.

1. 1Kearny, NJSuburb · 3-bed $564k · very safe72
2. 2Hackensack, NJSuburb · 3-bed $611k · very safe70
3. 3Sayreville, NJSuburb · 3-bed $508k · very safe70
4. 4Clifton, NJSuburb · 3-bed $630k · very safe69
5. 5Princeton, NJCollege town · 3-bed $793k · very safe69
6. 6Perth Amboy, NJSuburb · 3-bed $480k · very safe68
7. 7Newark, NJBig city · 3-bed $450k · moderate crime66
8. 8Linden, NJSuburb · 3-bed $565k · safe66
9. 9Passaic, NJSuburb · 3-bed $554k · moderate crime65
10. 10Plainfield, NJSuburb · 3-bed $494k · safe64
11. 11East Orange, NJSuburb · 3-bed $462k · safe64
12. 12Union City, NJSuburb · 3-bed $698k · very safe64
13. 13New Brunswick, NJSuburb · 3-bed $442k · safe64
14. 14Bayonne, NJSuburb · 3-bed $596k · very safe63
15. 15Elizabeth, NJSuburb · 3-bed $540k · moderate crime63
16. 16West New York, NJSuburb · 3-bed $675k · very safe63
17. 17Hoboken, NJSuburb · 3-bed $1.64M · very safe62
18. 18Paterson, NJMid-size city · 3-bed $508k · moderate crime61
19. 19Jersey City, NJBig city · 3-bed $748k · moderate crime60
20. 20Trenton, NJSuburb · 3-bed $360k · higher crime60
21. 21Camden, NJSuburb · 3-bed $168k · higher crime57
22. 22Lakewood, NJSmall city · 3-bed $659k · very safe53
23. 23Asbury Park, NJBeach town · 3-bed $760k · higher crime52
24. 24Toms River, NJSmall city · 3-bed $516k · very safe51
25. 25Vineland, NJSmall city · 3-bed $315k · safe42

Cheapest places to live in New Jersey

Ranked by the typical value of a 3-bedroom home (Zillow), lowest first.

1. 1Camden, NJSuburb · rent $2,170/mo · cost of living 103$168k
2. 2Vineland, NJSmall city · rent $2,300/mo · cost of living 96$315k
3. 3Sicklerville, NJSuburb · rent $2,170/mo · cost of living 103$344k
4. 4Trenton, NJSuburb · rent $2,340/mo · cost of living 103$360k
5. 5New Brunswick, NJSuburb · rent $2,980/mo · cost of living 113$442k

Safest places to live in New Jersey

Ranked by violent crimes per resident in FBI 2019 data, lowest first. Places missing from the FBI table are left out.

1. 1Princeton, NJCollege town · violent crime 0.08× the US rate32 per 100k
2. 2Union City, NJSuburb · violent crime 0.2× the US rate73 per 100k
3. 3Sayreville, NJSuburb · violent crime 0.2× the US rate76 per 100k
4. 4Toms River, NJSmall city · violent crime 0.2× the US rate77 per 100k
5. 5Clifton, NJSuburb · violent crime 0.3× the US rate112 per 100k

Safest places from natural disasters in New Jersey

Ranked by our natural disaster score: FEMA's expected deaths, injuries and home damage from 18 hazards, plus federally declared disasters in the county since 2000.

1. 1Perth Amboy, NJ8 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, earthquakes87
2. 2Sicklerville, NJ9 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, heat waves85
3. 3Bayonne, NJ6 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, heat waves84
4. 4Elizabeth, NJ8 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, earthquakes84
5. 5Union City, NJ6 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, heat waves84

Best places to live for families in New Jersey

Ranked by a family score: the average of our Kids & family, Safety, Education and Affordable housing scores. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out.

1. 1Princeton, NJCollege town · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $793k79
2. 2Sayreville, NJSuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $508k77
3. 3Kearny, NJSuburb · kids good · safety excellent · 3-bed $564k69
4. 4Clifton, NJSuburb · kids good · safety excellent · 3-bed $630k68
5. 5Perth Amboy, NJSuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $480k67

Best places to live · Cheapest places to live · Safest places to live · Safest places from natural disasters · Best places to live for families

Data: US Census, Zillow, HUD, BEA, FBI 2019, FEMA, NOAA, NASA, CMS, NCES and others. How scores work.