The 10 Best Places to Live in New Jersey for Families, Young Professionals, and Retirees

If you’re thinking about moving to New Jersey, living in the shadow of what many consider the world’s greatest city can prove to be a good thing. The best places to live in New Jersey have tons to offer young professionals, families, and retirees — often at a fraction of the cost of the Big Apple.

With an increased interest in telecommuting, remote work, and getting more square footage for less money, many city dwellers are now looking for the amenities that come with a suburban setting. And with New Jersey, you can get those benefits — and more — while still keeping the bustling excitement of the city within reach. 

But if you only know the state by what you see along the Turnpike or I-95, it’s hard to figure out where to start looking for the best places to live in New Jersey. Fortunately, the state is only 166 miles long and 65 miles wide, so it’s not unrealistic to plan a weekend driving tour to get a good feel for the Garden State. To help with your planning, we’ve gathered a list of our picks for the best places to live in New Jersey organized by the state’s main regions. We’ve included average home prices and other basics you need to know, as well.

Best Places To Live in New Jersey – FAQs

Q: What Part of New Jersey Is the Best to Live In?
A: Hoboken, Manalapan, Ho-Ho-Kus, and Monclair are among the best places to live in New Jersey. They are all wonderful cities in their own right, but they’re especially great commuter hubs if you work in New York.

Q: Where Are the Best Places To Live in New Jersey for Families?
A: Ho-Ho-Kus was rated by Niche as one of the best places to live in New Jersey for families. With strong public schools, a suburban feel, and a low crime rate, it’s easy to see why this town receives such high praise.

Q: What Are the Best Places To Live in New Jersey for Singles?
A: Not ready for family life yet? Hoboken and Jersey City are two of the best places to live in New Jersey for singles and young professionals because of their proximity to NYC.

Q: Is NJ a Nice Place To Live?
A: New Jersey is unique and often misunderstood, if you’re judging it by how it’s portrayed in pop culture. It’s a small state that offers a ton to its residents, including easy commuting access to New York and Philly — not to mention a lower cost of living than the Big Apple. It also has a culture all its own, so it’s absolutely worth moving to.

Q: What Are the Happiest Cities in New Jersey?
A: Based on their low crime rates, average commute times, median household income, and a few other data points, Summit, Hammonton, and Hoboken are cited as three of the best places to live in New Jersey if you’re judging by a “happiness” index.

Q: How Much Do You Need To Live Comfortably in NJ?
A: It depends on your definition of affordable. If you’re making it work in New York, you’ll likely find New Jersey to be a breath of fresh air, financially speaking. According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, a family of four with two working adults needs to make more than $125,000 per year before taxes to live comfortably in New Jersey.

Best Places To Live in New Jersey: North Jersey

Home to many New York City commuters, North Jersey’s specific regional boundaries are loosely defined, and the Big Apple greatly influences the area.

With its proximity to the city, people are moving to North Jersey to find the best of city and country life. Some of the most beautiful cityscape views in the country provide a spectacular backdrop for those who call this part of the state home. North Jersey is also a significant cultural hub and is home to the New Jersey Opera, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and the New Jersey Ballet Company. 

And the North Jersey swamps Bruce sang about now make a great place for nature lovers to explore. Many organizations have helped clean up the pollution that plagued the area for years, and now it’s the perfect place for excursions and eco-cruises. If you’re interested in relocating to this part of the state, here are some of the best towns in North Jersey.

1. Hoboken, NJ

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $4,425
• Average home value: $820,400
• Great for: Young professionals, singles, commuters, culture-seekers

Located on the banks of the Hudson River and less than five miles from New York City, Hoboken blends small-town charm with big-city amenities. This city may only encompass 1.25 square miles, but don’t let its small size fool you — it has almost 57,000 residents. The median age is 32, likely because it’s filled with young professionals who are commuting into Manhattan. 

And speaking of Manhattan, if you dreamed of living in the ritzy NYC borough but don’t want to pay those steep rent prices, Hoboken may be a more-than-suitable alternative. You may even feel like you’re walking the NYC streets with its historic brownstones and lively atmosphere. Plus, while the cost of living is notably higher than the national average, it’s still more affordable than Manhattan.

Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, is one of the best places to live in New Jersey for families, thanks to its charming suburban feel.
(Source: Christie's International Real Estate Group New Jersey via Facebook)

2. Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $5,100
• Average home value: $1.14M
• Great for: Families, retirees, public schools, housing, jobs

New York City may just be 27 miles away, but it’ll feel like another world compared to Ho-Ho-Kus’s tree-lined streets dotted with traditional colonial architecture. With a population of just over 4,000 and a median age of 43, this charming town is one of the best places to live in New Jersey for families and features top-rated schools and rich historical landmarks, like The Hermitage, a then-house and now-museum that once hosted George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and other top presidential aides in 1778. 

In addition to the strong schools, families enjoy Ho-Ho-Kus because of its low crime rate. These amenities don’t come cheap, though. While Ho-Ho-Kus’s cost of living is lower than Manhattan's, it’s still more than 41 percent higher than the national average and boasts an average home price in the million-dollar range.

Jersey City is one of the best towns in North Jersey for NYC commuters.
(Source: @jerseycity_homes via Instagram)

3. Jersey City, NJ

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $3,725
• Average home value: $623,300
• Great for: Satellite campuses, proximity to NYC, waterfront views

Nicknamed “Wall Street West,” Jersey City is one of the best places to live in New Jersey for singles and young professionals. It’s home to several second offices of companies headquartered in NYC, and it’s one of the top U.S. cities for commuters. It’s also one of the best places to live in New Jersey for singles. After all, if you’re looking for love, you have a good chance of finding it in the second most populous city in the Garden State (after Newark).

Many New Yorkers have moved to Jersey City to find a lower cost of living. However, the average home value is creeping up to the $625,000 range (a 6.6 percent jump from September 2023 to September 2024), which is well above New Jersey’s overall average value of almost $536,000. Regardless, it’s still a good bit less than NYC’s average home value of $757,500. 

Jersey City is also about as close as you can get to NYC and still remain outside the city limits. With an eastern waterfront that faces the Hudson River, it offers glorious waterfront views. It’s also home to Liberty State Park, which is larger than Central Park and provides panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. 

Named the second-most ethnically diverse city in the U.S. by Wallethub in 2024, Jersey City prides itself on being every bit as inclusive and culturally fascinating as NYC, too. A popular culinary destination with tastes from around the world, it’s home to Razza, which makes the best New York pizza, according to The New York Times. And you’ll find the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere at Jersey City’s Liberty Science Center. 

4. Montclair, NJ

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,100
• Average home value: $1.05M
• Great for: Artists, young families, NYC professionals

The name Montclair is French for “clear mountain,” but this New Jersey town can also be referred to as a small town that’s close to the Big Apple. Located just 20 miles from New York City with a population of around 40,000, Montclair may look like a suburb, but you need to check your stereotypes at the microbrewery door. Montclair is a hip locale, thanks to its vibrant arts and music scene, tasty restaurants, walkable streets, and lush parks. But that’s not all it has to offer. Families who want their rich cultural experiences with a side of education need to look no further — Montclair has a strong public school system and, for those post-secondary studies, is home to Montclair State University.

Think that living in a small town means sacrificing a big-city professional opportunity? Think again. Montclair has a great public transit system that can get you into NYC in around 40 minutes. If you want to stay close to home when the workday is done, you can find plenty of fun things to do in Montclair. Take the kids to the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center or have a laugh at one of Montclair Film’s improv comedy shows, for starters.

Other Top-Rated North Jersey Places Include:

• Ridgewood
• Millburn-Short Hills
• Wayne

Best Places To Live in New Jersey: Central Jersey

Home to the state capital of Trenton, Central Jersey covers the area from Bridgewater to Toms River. Like North Jersey, Central Jersey cities are popular places to live because of their close proximity to New York and other metropolitan areas. Central Jersey is literally the crossroads of the Garden State, where the New Jersey Turnpike and Golden State Parkway meet.

If you’re thinking about relocating to one of the towns in Central Jersey, there are a variety of options with diverse offerings for housing, dining, entertainment, and recreation. And Central Jersey is known for its gorgeous county parks that provide its inhabitants with many locations for outdoor fun and relaxation. 

Princeton Junction is one of the more family-friendly Central Jersey cities, boasting a strong school district and lots of parks.
(Source: Donna Lucarelli Sells West Windsor Real Estate via Facebook)

1. Princeton Junction, NJ

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,950
• Average home value: $989,300
• Great for: Families, academics, outdoorsy types

Located in Mercer County and featuring a population of almost 2,000 residents, Princeton Junction was named by Niche as the best place to buy a house in New Jersey and one of the top three best places to live in New Jersey. And for good reason. Like other townships and cities on this list, it’s fairly close to New York City (around 60 miles) but has a quaint, suburban feel.

And, yes, Princeton Junction is close to Princeton University — the prestigious Ivy League school. That means that Princeton Junction residents can spend the day enjoying the decorative outdoor landscaping at the Ron Rogers Arboretum and then drive four miles to Downtown Princeton to sample some of the state’s finest ethnic cuisine, take in a new exhibit at the renowned Princeton University Art Museum, or catch a show at the McCarter Theatre Center. With a mix of cultural richness, educational opportunities, and lush green spaces, Princeton Junction offers its residents a high quality of life.

Edison, New Jersey, is one of the most diverse Central Jersey cities.
(Source: The Raymond Lee Real Estate Team via Facebook)

2. Edison, NJ 

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,225
• Average home value: $602,900
• Great for: Families, educators, young professionals

Edison, New Jersey, is the namesake of Thomas Edison — easy to assume. But what you might not know is that this town used to be the home of Edison’s laboratory in Menlo Park. And while this town is steeped in history, the present state of Edison is making its own waves, thanks to its many amenities and charm.

Located an hour from Manhattan (hour and a half if you’re taking transit), Edison has a population of almost 107,000, and almost half of that population is Asian. This diversity leaves many feeling as though Edison offers a unique, desirable blend of international values along with other perks, like a strong public school system and a plethora of youth sporting opportunities. Even if group sports aren’t your — or your child’s — thing, there are still myriad ways to enjoy the Edison scenery. Edison is home to the Rutgers Ecological Preserve, a protected nature site that has a number of walkable trails, for example.

Manalapan, New Jersey, has a tight-knit community and top-rated schools, making it an attractive locale for families who want to be within driving distance of several metropolitan cities.
(Source: Melissa DeSantis Real Estate via Facebook)

Other Popular Central Jersey Towns Include:

• Princeton
• Middletown
• Piscataway
• Metuchen

Best Places To Live in New Jersey: South Jersey and the Jersey Shore

Forget what you’ve seen on MTV. Some would argue the Jersey Shore and South Jersey are some of the best places to live in New Jersey.

With over a hundred miles of coastline, the state’s Atlantic coast has long been a popular beach vacation getaway, but more and more people have decided to move to the Jersey Shore to live year-round. Its small-town access to live music, boardwalks, and amusement parks makes the region a fun place to live for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Cherry Hill is one of the best places to live in New Jersey for young professionals and families looking for a more affordable New Jersey city.
(Source: Justin West via Facebook)

1. Cherry Hill, NJ

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $2,075
• Average home value: $590,300
• Great for: Young professionals, families, retirees

Located in Camden County, just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Cherry Hill provides its 77,930 residents with easy access to Philly’s cultural attractions, employment opportunities, and entertainment options. And while that’s a significant benefit, Cherry Hill has plenty of amenities of its own. It’s served by the highly rated Cherry Hill Public Schools, and, for outdoor lovers, the township boasts numerous parks and recreational facilities. There’s also a vibrant retail scene, with shopping centers like the Cherry Hill Mall and several local boutiques and stores.

Cherry Hill also boasts a cost of living that falls below both the national and state average at just 94.2. It’s also lower than Philly’s cost of living, coming more in line with Pennsylvania’s average of 94.6. It’s one of the more picturesque locations, as well, especially in the month of April when over 1,400 cherry trees lining the two miles between King’s Highway and Route 38 show off their impressive blossoms.

With its picturesque views and small-town vibes, Medford, New Jersey, might not be what people picture when they think of South Jersey.
(Source: Bob Meyer Communities via Facebook)

2. Medford, NJ

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,850
• Average home value: $585,200
• Great for: Families, smaller crowds, suburban feel, quaint Main Street

For those thinking of moving to the South Jersey region between the Jersey Shore and Philadelphia, Medford offers a bucolic setting that’s a hub for culture and business. And with a population of just over 24,000, Medford has managed to avoid overcrowding.

There’s even land still available for you to build your dream home in Medford, if you find a suburban setting with a historic Main Street full of quaint shops and restaurants appealing. The average home value is around $585,000, a rise of more than 8 percent between September 2023 and September 2024.

If you want to make easy beach access and a boardwalk in your backyard a more permanent situation, consider a move to Ocean City, New Jersey.

3. Ocean City, NJ

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,600
• Average home value: $1.03M
• Great for: Families, retirees, restaurants, access to the Jersey Shore

Ocean City is a small town of just over 11,000, but the city grows to a million or more during the popular summertime months. If you want to make easy beach access and a boardwalk in your backyard a more permanent situation, consider a move to this lovely locale on the Jersey Shore.

Of course, there are plenty of outdoor activities during the warmer months, but there’s plenty to do in Ocean City all year long. Dog lovers can take their favorite four-legged friends to the Ocean City Dog Park and history buffs can check out the Ocean City Historical Museum. If shopping, sipping, and strolling is more your speed, be sure to visit Downtown Ocean City.  

Other Notable South Jersey Options Include:

• Collingswood
• Cape May
• Haddonfield
• Mount Laurel
• Spring Lake

Moving to New Jersey with PODS means a flexible moving schedule with built-in storage options. 

Planning Your Move

If you’re leaving a dense urban area, you can help yourself avoid major hassles with these tips for moving out of NYC. Not sure if you’ll find your ideal home before you need If you’re leaving a dense urban area, you can help yourself avoid major hassles with these tips for moving out of NYC. Not sure if you’ll find your ideal home before you need to move out? Find out how to use the flexibility of PODS moving and storage containers to give yourself some breathing room and peace of mind. Good luck with your relocation!

LB Gabriel is a freelance writer who lives with her husband, daughter, and Golden Retriever in Memphis, TN. A frequent PODS Blog contributor, she’s a sucker for any tip she can find on downsizing, cutting clutter, or minimalist living. When she’s not on a deadline, you can find her on a tennis court or golf course.

Editor’s note: Average rent prices were obtained from RentCafe and Zumper, and average home values were obtained from Zillow. For ease of reading, monthly rental prices were rounded to the nearest $25 and home values were rounded to the nearest $100.