6 NJ Towns Ranked Among the Best Places to Live in NY Metro Area

These towns offer close proximity to NYC and plenty of charm.

George Washington Bridge / istockphoto.com/voshadhi

Niche ranked the Best Places to Live in the New York City Area and six NJ towns made the list! While the majority of the places that made the list are on Long Island, NJ had a strong showing with many of our commutable, great towns earning high marks.

Great Neck Gardens in Nassau County on Long Island took the number one spot on the list, with its highly rated public schools and a focus on family life. The NJ towns that earned spots on the list include Ho-Ho-Kus (#6), Ridgewood (#9), River Edge (#11), Closter (#16), Berkeley Heights (#23) and Harrington Park (#25). Bergen County was heavily favored, with only Berkeley Heights, located in Union County, representing a different NJ county.

Here are the top 25 towns:

  1. Great Neck Gardens, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  2. Great Neck Plaza, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  3. Herricks, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  4. Syosset, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  5. Kensington, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  6. Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ (Bergen County)
  7. Lake Success, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  8. Hartsdale, NY (Westchester County)
  9. Ridgewood, NJ (Bergen County)
  10. Plainview, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  11. River Edge, NJ (Bergen County)
  12. East Williston, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  13. Ardsley, NY (Westchester County)
  14. Manhattan, NYC
  15. Old Bethpage, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  16. Closter, NJ (Bergen County)
  17. Greenvale, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  18. Jericho, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  19. Hewlett Harbor, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  20. East Hills, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  21. Chelsea, Manhattan
  22. Searingtown, NY (Nassau County, Long Island)
  23. Berkeley Heights, NJ (Union County)
  24. Morningside Heights, Manhattan
  25. Harrington Park, NJ (Bergen County)

Ho-Ho-Kus is easily accessible to NYC, making it a quick commute for residents who go into the city for work. The public elementary school has a low student-to-teacher ratio. Locals take pride in The Hermitage, a Gothic Revival house that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open for tours. Favorite places to eat include the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern, which is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features an American-style menu.

In Ridgewood, families enjoy highly rated public schools plus lots of restaurants, desert spots, coffee shops, boutiques and parks. The downtown is a popular Bergen County destination for dining out. “Couldn’t imagine a better place to raise a family,” wrote on reviewer on Niche.

In River Edge, residents say they love their friendly neighborhood that includes a good library, good schools and nice, small restaurants.

Niche came up with their rankings based on crime rates, public schools, cost of living, job opportunities and local amenities. Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC and other sources. Click here to learn more about each of the best towns.

Read more:

Day Trip Ideas in NYC with the Kids
These are the Best Places to Live in NJ According to a New Study
This NJ Town Was Ranked One of the Best for Families in the US

Subscribe to Our Newsletter!

Get fun things to do in NJ delivered straight to your inbox.

Latest articles

More from NJ Family