Ask ten New Jerseyans where the best place to live is, and you’ll get ten different answers. Travel + Leisure recently asked real estate pros around the country for their take on the 10 Best Places to Live in New Jersey for 2025 and here are the spots they chose:
- Jersey City has the best views of NYC, plus there’s plenty to do on our side of the Holland Tunnel. WalletHub recently named the diverse Hudson County city a Best Place to Raise a Family.
Kid-friendly spots include Liberty Science Center (check out the new SUE T. rex exhibit), the RPM Raceway, shopping at Newport Centre mall, going to a festival or the farmers market along Grove Street, and taking in views of the NYC skyline on a waterfront walk.
Jersey City is a foodie city, with hot spots like Lokal Eatery & Bar for its focaccia, Razza Pizza Artigianale for its international award-winning pies, Meximodo’s recent opening for Mexican cuisine and bar and Rooftop at Exchange Place for a night out, or a wine-tasting night at The Feathered Fox.
It’s also home to Franklin School, named the Most Innovative in the World by T4 Education.
2. Asbury Park gets national attention for its vibrant music scene and deep ties to Bruce Springsteen, its trendy oceanfront hotels and restaurants and public art. The city goes extra for Halloween, with everything from the Zombie Walk to the new Asbury Halloween Park Food Truck & Music Festival (held this past weekend) and the haunted Paranormal Museum.
The city’s beach and the boardwalk are iconic, from Wonder Bar to The Stony Pony to Convention Hall. It’s so expansive that mega festivals like Sea.Hear.Now and North 2 Shore call Asbury Park home. There’s also a bustling downtown with coffee shops, restaurants and shopping.
3. Montvale is about 30 miles from New York City, making it a popular spot for those commuting to Manhattan. The Shoppes at DePiero Farm is a hot spot thanks to Wegmans, Lululemon, Orangetheory Fitness and CycleBar.
Head to a pumpkin festival at The Farm on Craig Road during the fall. Fire & Oak American Grille is a popular spot fora night out while Davey’s Irish Pub & Restaurant has lots of family-friendly options.
4. Woodland Park is home to Lambert Castle at the very scenic Garret Mountain Reservation. Channel your inner artist at Arts & Creations Pottery Studio; plan a camping trip to Rifle Camp Park, or walk 10+ miles of trails in the Watchung Mountains in High Mountain Park Preserve.
Diane Grimes Memorial Park is undergoing a renovation that will make it fully inclusive for families with special needs. Zaccaria Park, Rose Place Park and Dowling Gardens each have their green spaces and playgrounds.
Visit the Downtown McBride Avenue Corridor for shopping and eating. Popular restaurants include Bask46 for bar food and pizza, My Sister’s Deli for locally sourced sandwiches, Evolution Restaurant & Bar for fusion dishes and Naxos Estiatorio for a date night.
5. Located in the scenic Pascack Valley region of Bergen County, Woodcliff Lake is named after a reservoir of the same name that also runs through parts of Hillsdale and Park Ridge.
The town is known for its excellent schools, summers at the expansive Old Mill Pool complex (one of the largest municipal pools in North Jersey), hiking at Atkins Glen, and planting in the community garden.
The borough has several green spaces: Wood Dale County Park has 55 acres – known for its lake – including trails, playgrounds, a pond, tennis courts, and open fields. Woodcliff Park (Passive Park) opened earlier this year, with walking paths, benches, and pollinator-friendly landscaping. Sports lovers head to the Woodcliff Lake Tennis Complex for tennis or pickleball; or the Jack D’Ambrosi, Jr. Sports Complex to play baseball, softball, soccer and kickball.
There are plenty of shopping opportunities. Tice’s Corner Marketplace sits on the farm property from the early 1800s, which now has plenty of shops, including an Apple location, Madewell, Free People, Nic and Zoe and many others. Van Riper Plaza, located across the street, is home to Whole Foods Market, Sephora, Cambridge Wines, and other premium retailers. The borough is also home to BMW of North America Headquarters, since 1988.
And just 20 miles from NYC, Woodcliff Lake has accessibility via the Garden State Parkway, Route 17, County Route 503, the Woodcliff Lake NJ Transit Station, and private bus service to Midtown Manhattan.
6. The center of Morristown is The Green, a former military base turned into a park. Historic gems here include the Smithsonian-affiliated Morris Museum, the Morristown National Historical Park, Historic Speedwell (the birthplace of the telegraph, the Schuyler-Hamilton house (where Hamilton fans know Alexander first met Eliza), the Mayo Performing Arts Center, and Seaton Hackney Stables.
Fortune named Morristown the No. 9 Best Place for Families in the U.S. last year, for its mix of a thriving business district, a top-notch hospital and school system, and lots of culture.
Popular places for dinner include 1776 Morristown by Chef David Burke, The Committed Pig, Toastique, and Masseria Italian Steakhouse. Two of the biggest events are the Morristown Festival of Books, and the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival.
7. Fair Lawn is home to natural spots like Peace Park at Fair Lawn Shade Tree; and Garretson Forge & Farm, one of the oldest historic sites in Bergen County, listed on the National and New Jersey State Historic Registry. Dating back to 1719, this Dutch Colonial homestead was home to six generations of the Garretson family, and is open for guided house and garden tours.
The Fair Lawn Community Center offers recreational activities – partnering with the Fair Lawn Art Association and the Fair Lawn Radio Club. Take a walking tour of the historic Radburn Association community to learn about the former footbridge, the “villains” of Radburn’s history, the fate of B Park’s summer house, and the first Tot Lot in town. Or in the warmer months, take the kids to Memorial Pool with its spray park. The Radburn Pool is also beloved in town.
8. Tenafly has highly-rated schools and lots of natural beauty, including the Tenafly Nature Center and Churchill Nature Preserve; plus Roosevelt Common, the site of Theodore Roosevelt monument and pool.
The borough is a destination in the spring and fall for its street fair festivals. Year-round, families choose to frequent Hulyer Park next to the historic railroad station, and come back on special days for summer concerts and the Memorial Day ceremony.
The African Art Museum of the Society of African Missions Fathers is 1 of 5 museums around the world founded by SMA, an international Roman Catholic missionary that serves the people of Africa. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian is part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Kaplen JCC On the Palisades is open to Jewish worshippers but also holds public events.
Popular restaurants include Spring House, Osaka Sushi, Cafe Angelique, and TPR Restaurant.
9. Hamilton Twp. in Mercer County is packed with arts and culture. Grounds for Sculpture is a 42-acre art-filled garden and sculpture park that is a bucket list destination not only for its spectacular Seward Johnson works of art but also for Rat’s Restaurant, which will make you feel like you walked into a Monet painting.
Sayen House & Gardens has more than 1,000 azaleas in the spring, but offers photo ops year-round through its paths and trails. There’s a bungalow-style home available for events.
The Kuser Mansion is another spot to tour. It’s the former summer home of Fred Kuser of Fox Film Corporation, Lenox Company and the Mercer Motor Car Company. Built in 1892, the Queen Anne-style country home sits on 22 of the original 70-acre estate. Winter Wonderland Christmas Tours are a popular time to visit.
10. Monroe Twp. in Middlesex County shares Thompson Park with its lake, playgrounds, sports fields, hills for sledding and mini zoo (deer, farm animals and birds) with its neighbor Jamesburg.
Known as a town for both retirees and young families, Monroe has a weekly farmers market that draws hundreds of shoppers, hosts a huge 4th of July celebration every year, has a fall festival and corn maze at Etsch Farms, and holds summer concerts in the park.
The 10 Best Places to Live in New Jersey (2025), according to Travel + Leisure:
- Jersey City
- Asbury Park
- Montvale
- Woodland Park
- Woodcliff Lake
- Morristown
- Fair Lawn
- Tenafly
- Hamilton Twp.
- Monroe Twp.
Get the latest on the best things to do with your family in and around New Jersey by signing up for our newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram!
Read More:
The Most Beautiful Places to See NJ’s Fall Foliage
How Safe Is New Jersey? A 2025 Study Reveals the Results
New Jersey’s 10 Best Colleges and Universities for 2026, According to WalletHub
