From close-knit communities to lots of charm and character, there are so many perks of raising kids in a small town. The popular website Stacker used data released last month by Niche to create a list of the 50 Best Small Towns to Raise a Family in the U.S. Of the six New Jersey towns on the list, five made the top 11, and several are in Bergen County.
The first New Jersey town on the list, Mountain Lakes, ranks fourth overall. With a population of less than 5,000, many in the Morris County town tend to commute to NYC via train. Mountain Lakes schools are among the best in the state, and according to the New York Times, much of the town feels like a “resort getaway.” In 2021, Niche ranked the area the No. 1 best place to raise a family in Morris County, and the second best place to raise a family in NJ.
Next up is Bergen County’s Ho-Ho-Kus, at No. 7, also with less than 5,000 residents. With a charming downtown anchored by the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern, a town institution listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the borough has a rich history. In fact, its name is derived from its proud Native American origins. Known for its top-notch K-8 school district, Ho-Ho-Kus is one of several towns whose teens attend highly-ranked Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale. The borough is also home to the Hermitage, a fourteen-room Gothic Revival house/museum built in 1847–48 that’s also a National Historic Landmark.
Haworth placed eighth on the list. Located on the Oradell Reservoir, it’s still close to Manhattan, making it an easy day trip from Bergen County for any of its 3,000 residents. There’s a small downtown area in the town Brooke Shields and Philip Bosco used to call home. It’s considered one of the cutest and friendliest places, and a “true hometown,” according to the New York Times.
Harrington Park rounded out the Top 10 at No. 9. Another Bergen County town, it has one of the highest levels of recreational acreage per capita in the state because of its many parks. Senator Cory Booker and “Blue’s Clues” creator Angela Santomero are famous natives.
Also on the list is Princeton Junction, coming in at No. 11. Often confused with its cousin, the Municipality of Princeton, it’s actually part of West Windsor Twp. in Mercer County. The landscape is dotted with parks, and families flock here for its highly-rated schools. There’s also a train station stop along the Northeast Corridor Line making it ideal for commuters. In recent years, many Asian grocery stores and restaurants have opened up.
No. 37 on the list, Northvale, another Bergen County suburb, has a home listed on the National Register of Historic Places, offers open space at John L. Hogan Memorial Park, and celebrates German culture at German Masonic Park.
The Top 10 Best Small Towns to Raise a Family in the U.S., according to Stacker:
1. Kildeer, Chicago
2. Devon, Philadelphia
3. Kensington, NY
4. Mountain Lakes, NJ
5. Mariemont, Cincinnati
6. Riverwoods, Chicago
7. Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
8. Haworth, NJ
9. Harrington Park, NJ
10. Kohler, WI
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