Three of New Jersey’s northern towns made it into the top 50 places to live in the country, according to Money magazine. The annual ranking looks at factors like economic opportunities, quality of life, diversity and where the best futures lie.
It’s no surprise that Jersey City, commonly referred to as the “Sixth Borough” of New York City, placed in the Top 10 at number 10. It was followed closely by Fort Lee at number 14 and Morristown at number 30.
Jersey City has made it to so many superlative lists for its amazing food, proximity to New York City and more. Waterfront views of the NYC skyline are pretty much the best. There’s also a bustling arts district (JCAST is held every fall but you can catch Art Fair 14C Nov. 10-13), the Liberty Science Center (check out the awesome Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles exhibit through January), Liberty State Park, marinas, and a great mix of eateries throughout the city’s neighborhoods and along the waterfront. Razza is frequently at the top of pizza lovers’ lists and WalletHub recently placed Jersey City at No. 40 on its list of best in the nation for foodies.
Exchange Place, Grove Street and Newark Avenue are packed with shops, restaurants, hotels and the PATH station for easy access into Manhattan. There are plenty of reasons to stay on our side of the Hudson River, which include areas like the Heights, Journal Square and Paulus Hook. Newport Centre Mall is a 20-minute walk from downtown, and Hamilton Park is a popular spot, too.
Also along the Hudson, the tiny, less than 3-square-mile Fort Lee is right by the George Washington Bridge. There’s lots of history and culture in the area, including the annual Art & Music Festival, Historic Park (where you can boat, hike, kayak and cycle), the Fort Lee Museum (though it is currently closed for renovations) and film sites (Fort Lee housed the first permanent film studio in 1910), if you can manage the traffic.
There is a huge Korean population, so the Korean BBQ is pretty amazing. Locals love Hazard Beach during the summer. There are also plenty of Revolutionary War sites around since Fort Lee was an American military encampment.
Morristown makes the list after landing at number 30 on another list, too– the 2022 Livability poll.
“It is an incredible honor to be recognized not once, but twice in a year for being one of the best places to live,” said Mayor Tim Dougherty. “Morristown is a wonderful place to be, so we are thrilled but not at all surprised. You would be hard-pressed to find a better community than what we have here. We have such incredible residents, unique and flourishing small businesses, a strong commitment to the Arts, diversity, transit and housing options, it truly is one of the most special places in America.”
Morristown is best known for the Mayo Performing Arts Center; Morristown National Historic Park, where Gen. George Washington and his army spent the 1779-1780 winter during the Revolutionary War. Stop by the weekly farmers market from June to November, the Jazz & Blues Festival or the Festival of Books. Also worth a visit are Historic Speedwell, the Birthplace of the Telegraph, and the Schuyler-Hamilton house, where Hamilton fans know Alexander first met Eliza.
Downtown Morristown is packed with shopping and great restaurants. Some of our favorites include The Committed Pig, a burger and pancake house, and the Famished Frog, a craft beer bar with flatbread pizzas and wings.
Here are the Top 10 cities listed in the Money poll.
1. Atlanta, GA
2. Tempe, AZ
3. Kirkland, WA
4. Raleigh, NC
5. Rogers Park, Chicago, IL
6. Columbia, MD
7. Somerville, MA
8. Ann Arbor, MI
9. Tampa, FL
10. Jersey City, NJ
If you’re looking for more towns that make our personal list, check out Cape May, especially as Christmas approaches; West Windsor; or Parsippany-Troy Hills.