New Jersey

New Jersey is a northeastern U.S. state with some 130 miles of Atlantic coast. Jersey City, across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan, is the site of Liberty State Park, where ferries embark for nearby Ellis Island, with its historic Immigration Museum, and the iconic Statue of Liberty.

New Jersey is often associated with a lot of bad things, and neighbouring its hipper, grander sister, New York, doesn’t help matters. The Garden State is accused of having some of the highest taxes in the country. And being too populated. Scratch that – and being the most densely populated state with 9 million people cramped up in its tiny shores (it’s the fourth smallest state by area but 11th largest by population).

A land mostly made up of highways, yet traffic is a constant theme here. And rude people. And factory fumes. And landfills. And pricey homes.

The thing is, though, every place has its own ups and downs. And while Jersey has some pretty nasty ones, it is not short of its fair share of plusses.

Like its enviable location – it is possible to work in New York and live in New Jersey; or spend a Saturday in Philadelphia and be back home for dinner.

New Jersey is a beautiful state (give credit where it’s due) with plenty of shore towns and beloved diners. Its rural farmland is a source of fresh local produce that you’ll find displayed on farm stands, albeit mostly in summer.

It is a beautifully diverse state, and a state famous for high-performing public schools, with one of the highest high school graduation rates in the country (ranked #2 in 2016, for instance).

Here are the best places to live in new Jersey:

1. North Arlington

North Arlington

Starting us off our list of best places to live in New Jersey is North Arlington, a suburb of 15,800 residents located in Bergen County, the most populous county in the state.

North Arlington was included in TIME’s Money Magazine Best Places to Live in America 2017, checking in at No. 8.

The beauty of North Arlington is that it offers a small-town feel yet promises all the perks you would expect while living in the city. In this case, that city happens to be arguably the world’s most famous: New York City.

This suburb of New Jersey is only 15 miles from the Big Apple’s financial district, the world’s most prominent financial district.

Median home value stands at $349,800 and rent averages $1,223 for a single-family home.

Residents have access to an excellent school district, and the area has a low crime rate; not without its cases, but certainly favourable enough to warrant North Arlington a top 10 spot of best places to live in the nation.

Other contributing factors include the area’s proximity to the Meadowlands Sports Complex and MetLife Stadium.

2. Ridgewood

Ridgewood

As mentioned, Bergen County is the most populous part of the state, so don’t be surprised if you find quite a few entries from the area on this list.

Ridgewood is another suburb from this county, a suburb characterised by an eye-popping mix of Victorian homes and turn-of-the-century farmhouses.

The houses in this area are postcard material, and it shouldn’t be astonishing to know the average home value in the area stands at an enormous $716,400, with rental prices averaging $1,981 a month.

That automatically rules it out as a neighborhood for the ordinary Joe. Of course, there are cheaper homes, but cheap here is somewhere in the range of half a million dollars.

But that hasn’t stopped people from flocking here. 25,370 residents call Ridgewood home. Its kids have access to some highly rated schools, and the village offers access to plenty of parks, a thriving downtown and other family-friendly activities.

3. White Meadow Lake

White Meadow Lake

White Meadow Lake is a suburb in Morris County with a population of just a little under 9,000 people. Happy people. The area is often on the top 10 list of happiest places in New Jersey, but it’s really hard not to be if you call this unincorporated community home.

White Meadow Lake is easily one of the most picturesque places in the Garden State, and it really does have a lake AND meadows.

Crime is something the residents probably get to hear about on Facebook, and the unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the state.

Throw in a high median income of $116,623, excellent schools, buzzing nightlife and a commute time of 20 minutes on average, and there is little not to smile about.

4. Princeton

Princeton

If the name rings bells, it’s because it is here that the prestigious Princeton University is based. The Ivy League university is one of the best universities in the country. It may be the most famous address in the town of just under 30,000, but there is a lot it has to offer.

Princeton’s location is almost exactly between New York and Philadelphia, making it a perfect launchpad for anyone who might be making frequent trips to either or both cities.

The cost of living can be a bit steep in the Mercer County town, with median home value sitting at $780,300. But the residents also bank handsome figures in the range of $114,645 per household.

If you can afford it, few places in the state can promise you a better place to call home. Niche.com named Princeton the third best place to live in New Jersey 2017. Princeton came in at #1 on the list of “Best College Towns to Live in” by Smartasset.com.

Wallethub.com named it the best small city in America from a list comprising over 1,200. And it came in at position 15 on Money Magazine’s top towns to Live and Work in America.

5. Oradell

Oradell

Oradell is a small town in Bergen County that is home to some 8,000 residents. This is a highly affluent neighbourhood where median home value hovers upwards of half a million bucks ($549,100 to be exact).

A large majority of its residents are well educated, with almost 80% of them (79.25%) having a minimum of a college degree. Their efforts have not gone unrewarded as the households in Oradell take home on average $141,550, certainly no mean figure.

This is one of the safest places in New Jersey, a tranquil town that is ideal for strolling around with family, with the Little Firehouse Theater one of the major entertainment spots.

6. Edison Township

Edison Township

Edison is a small city in Middlesex County with a population of 102,000, which makes it the fifth largest municipality in New Jersey in terms of population.

In case you’re wondering, the city gets its name from the one and only Thomas Edison whose home and main research lab were based here – yes, including the lab where the famous “10,000” light bulbs were tested before he finally cracked the puzzle.

As with several entries in our list of best places to live in the Garden State, Edison has been featured multiple times on many a “Best list”. And the driving factors behind this are multiple.

One is the low unemployment rate due to the presence of many big-name businesses in the area, including the John F. Kennedy Medical Center and Johnson & Johnson.

The education system is top-notch and surprisingly, the cost of living remains lower compared to the rest of the state.

7. Saddle Brook

Saddle Brook

If your job involves lots of time on the road, one of the first places you should consider settling down in New Jersey is Saddle Brook, a small town in Bergen County that is home to 14,000 residents.

The area is crisscrossed by multiple major highways like the Interstate 80, the Garden State Parkway and Route 17. In fact, this is considered one of the best places for commuters, and the fact that New York City is just minutes away really says it all.

As far as recreation goes, there is plenty in Saddle Brook to keep you occupied, with numerous community events that include baseball game outings, community movie nights and even walks with the mayor!

Money Magazine listed Saddle Brook the 24th best place to live in America 2017. Median home value stands at $362,500. Source: www.saddlebrooknjapts.com

8. Succasunna

Succasunna

Succasunna is a charming community in Morris County with about 9,000 residents.

The cost of living in this uniquely named village is high, but so is the median income which stands at $120,895.

New Jersey has a lot of things damaging its cred, as we initially highlighted. But it also boasts many unique firsts that few states can only dream of. Succasunna happens to be the site of the first electronic switching public telephone exchange in the world.

Beyond that, the crime rate here is slim to none, the unemployment rate is low and the community ranks favourably for its married families.

More than 75% of the residents have a college degree and above, and it naturally follows that the local school district in the area be among the best in the state. Which it is.

9. Ho-Ho-Kus

Ho-Ho-Kus

Ho-Ho-Kus is a tiny borough of 4,132 residents in Bergen County, widely considered one of the best places to live in the state.

The major downside to it is a high cost of living – expect to pay rent averaging $2,243 per month, and if you are one of those looking to invest in a home, the median value rests at the $723,000 mark.

That’s a bit high for most people, but unfortunately, it’s the price you get to pay if you want an area served by some of the best schools in New Jersey, with numerous outdoor activities and low crime rate to contend with.

Some would argue these are perks you can enjoy for much less in some places in the state, but households raking $162,386 on average might not deem it too big a price to fork out.

10. Little Silver

Little Silver

Little Silver is considered one of the happiest places in New Jersey for a reason.

Just a few minutes to the famous beaches of Jersey Shore, the town is more of a coastal borough.

It is a small community of just 6,000 residents, and one of the most expensive places not just in the state, but also consistently features on many nationwide lists revolving around cost.

No matter, the residents who call Little Silver home are crazy rich, and many of them are families with children. Almost all the homes, whose median stands at $597,400, are single-family owner-occupied homes, a reflection of the stability in the local community.

Incidences of crime are foreign news in this small town of Monmouth County, with a high employment rate and many outdoor activities to keep the residents smiling.

The welcoming town really is a little gem as the name hints; probably silver.

11. Parsippany-Troy Hills

Parsippany-Troy Hills

In the 2017 Money Magazine list of best places to live in America, Parsippany-Troy Hills grabbed position 33, and it is not hard to see why.

The suburb of Morris County features breathtaking scenery that has no doubt swayed the decision of many to settle in the area.

More than 53,600 people call the scenic city home, and another key draw to Parsippany-Troy Hills is the high number of corporations situated here. The likes of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Jackson Hewitt are headquartered here.

Parsippany-Troy Hills also features a bustling art scene, and this, along with its 25 parks, were some of the reasons Money Magazine ranked it so highly.

There is also a museum in the area, a school for the arts & crafts movement and Craftsman Farms.

12. Bergenfield

Bergenfield

Bergenfield is a borough in Bergen County that is home to more than 27,330 people.

This is an area more suited to those looking to raise a family, as it has everything every parent could wish for. A highly rated public school system, low crime and many outdoor activities for everyone to partake in.

The cost of living in Bergenfield is low compared to the state average, with homes averaging $337,000. This is just about the price of a three- or four-bedroom single-family property, depending on street, of course.

Indeed, Bergenfield got the nod from Bloomberg Businessweek when they named the town the second best place to raise children in the state.

Manhattan is only about 13 miles away.

13. Waldwick

Waldwick

Waldwick is not only one of the best places to live in New Jersey, but it is also surrounded by some of the best addresses in the state. Ridgewood. Ho-Ho-Kus. And Midland Park.

The small suburb is home to 9,900 residents, and it boasts a pretty solid education system with a high high school graduation rate.

Waldwick has never considered itself a crime hotspot, and who really doesn’t want a safe area to live, right? The cost of living is reflective of the high costs that characterise Jersey, with a single-family home averaging $424,400.

The high cost of living is the only major deterrent when gauging the viability of this area, but if the money is happy, then you can’t really wish for a nicer place to call home.

14. Concordia

Concordia Golf Course

Concordia warrants a mention on our list of best places to live in New Jersey for its invitingly low cost of living, first and foremost.

The Middlesex County has one of the lowest median home values at $164,800, and it is surprising the population has managed to remain below 3,500.

Then again, this is a neighbourhood best suited for retirees and anyone who fancies a low-key, low cost of living.

There are some great schools in the area, with plenty of outdoor activities that range from tennis courts to golf; the 18-hole Concordia Golf Course is a perfect place to go shooting some rounds.

The residents also enjoy an almost non-existent crime rate, and while the area may be a little dull when it comes to nightlife, so happens that some of us just prefer it this way.

15. Chatham

Chatham

Chatham has a population of 9,000, with an adult population that holds a minimum of a college degree.

The high levels of education in the town is reflected in two major aspects.

One is that the children of these residents get to be schooled with some of the brightest tools in the box. And second, the area has a high per capita income, outperforming the national average by a massive 139%.

Families take home $142,765 on average, which is a good thing considering the high cost of living in the area where home values average $706,800.

Nightlife is a little wanting, but this is negated by other perks that include a short commute time, many outdoor activities and low crime rate.

If a neighbourhood populated by smart, affluent folks sounds appealing, Chatham may just be the place for you.

New Jersey is a northeastern U.S. state with some 130 miles of Atlantic coast. Jersey City, across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan, is the site of Liberty State Park, where ferries embark for nearby Ellis Island, with its historic Immigration Museum, and the iconic Statue of Liberty. The Jersey Shore includes notable resort towns like historic Asbury Park and Cape May, with its preserved Victorian buildings.

Chasing waterfalls in New Jersey is definitely a great outdoor activity.

Big cities are fun and all, but there is nothing like climbing up a waterfall or hiking in the wild and being surprised with a 100-foot waterfall at the end of your hike.

New Jersey is known as the garden state; however, you can find astonishing waterfalls – mainly in the northern end of the state.

Since the rivers and streams are running at their highest in the spring, that is the best time to visit the falls.

If you happen to visit New Jersey during any other season, they are accessible year-round and beautiful any time of year.

1. Boontoon Falls

Boontoon Falls are situated just off the main street in Boontoon.

These falls are easily accessible from each direction of the Rockaway River, inside Grace Lord Park.

These cascades once powered the New Jersey Iron Company, which is a unique reason to visit the park.

Many people who visit the falls actually climb to the top for better views.

Surrounded by moss and greenery, there are not too many other falls in New Jersey that are as picturesque as Boontoon Falls.

Beneath the falls, you will find a pool, which is great for fishing or kayaking (only for expert kayakers.)

2. Buttermilk Falls

Buttermilk Falls

Buttermilk Falls is the tallest waterfall in New Jersey.

You do not have to hike very far in order to see this waterfall; in fact, it’s only a few steps away.

Since Buttermilk Falls are so easily accessible, many people frequent them during the summer months, so it can get busy.

There are several beautiful trails around the falls, especially the blue trail.

If you want to visit Buttermilk Falls in the winter, you will need to walk around one mile down Mountain Road in order to approach them.

3. Hacklebarney Falls

Hacklebarney Falls

Hacklebarney State Park is a great place to go and spend the afternoon.

Many people visit the park for a picnic and utilize the charcoal grills that are situated in picturesque locations around the canyon.

There are five miles of trails throughout the park, which, of course, include the falls flowing around the boulders down the ravine.

During the 19th century, this was a mined iron site.

You can read the signs and learn a bit of history during your visit.

4. Tillman Ravine Falls

Tillman Ravine Falls

Tillman Ravine Falls are located in Stokes State Forest and feature a few different, easily accessible trails.

Since the falls are located in the northwest area of New Jersey, the landscape is a little different; it is very quiet, isolated and beautiful, with only a small village nearby.

The waterfall is small and narrow and slightly different from the other falls in NJ. While visiting Tillman Ravine Falls, you are close to Buttermilk Falls and Silver Spray Falls; try to make the most of your time and visit all three.

5. Hemlock Falls

Hemlock Falls

Hemlock Falls are located near Millburn, New Jersey.

The trailhead is easy for all fitness levels.

Dogs are welcome on the trail as long as they are leashed.

This trail is well maintained from March to the end of October, although it is open year-round.

Hemlock Falls Trail is a 5.6-mile loop and is recommended for intermediate hikers.

There is a trail you can follow that is less than two miles return, for those who want easy access to the falls.

The falls are 20-feet high and surrounded by forest.

6. Great Falls

Great Falls

Great Falls is the second largest waterfall in terms of volume.

It is situated east of the Mississippi River and beside Niagara Falls.

The waterfall is 77-feet tall.

Great Falls is in the newest National Park in New Jersey and is located in Paterson.

The falls are unique; they flow under the bridge, which offers a great opportunity to take pictures.

There is a lot of history to learn when visiting Great Falls, and many different attractions in the area.

7. Greenbrook Falls

Greenbrook Falls

Greenbrook Falls is a sanctuary for hikers.

With close to seven miles of marked trails, you can spend the whole day immersed in nature.

Greenbrook Falls are located in Greenbrook Sanctuary, which is a 165-acre reservation in Tenafly and Alpine.

In order to explore around Greenbrook Falls, you must undertake one of their hikes, which is offered by the nature center.

This is a very informative way to see the sanctuary and enjoy the falls.

8. Tumble Falls

Tumble Falls

Tumble Falls offers a different smattering of little creeks that flow into the Delaware River.

During the springtime or after a good rainfall in fall or winter, these falls are flowing quite heavily.

Tumble Falls ranges from 30+ feet to some cascades dropping 15 and 20 feet.

These falls are fun because there are a few different drops that crash through the sandstone bluffs.

In order to reach Tumble Falls, you will need to hike around 200 yards up from the stream to get the best view.

9. Dunnfield Creek

Source: Breck P. Kent

Dunnfield Creek

Dunnfield Creek offers a few smaller waterfalls located 0.2 miles from the trailhead.

The trailhead starts at the Dunnfield Creek parking lot.

You will be in admiration as the trail crosses over the creek numerous times throughout the hike.

Depending on how long you want to hike around Dunnfield Creek, there are many different trails that one can follow.

Water snakes are frequent in the area and in Sunfish Pond, which is only a short walk away.

10. Watchung Reservation

Watchung Reservation

Watchung Reservation is like paradise for children, and adults will enjoy it too.

There are trails for every level of hiker, including the Sierra Trail that formulates a 10.8 loop; this is where you will see the gorge, with water flowing down the cliffs.

While you are visiting Watchung Reservation, you can enjoy the science center, Lake Surprise, the Deserted Village of Feltvile, as well as the Watchung Stables.

This reservation consists of 2,000-acres of protected forest.

There is something for everyone here.