Two very popular towns in Mercer County have topped a list by Niche for its Best Places to Live in New Jersey for 2023, followed by some other great choices.
The criteria for the rankings include area type, public school system, cost of living, types of people who live in the area (such as families vs. retirees), walkability, crime and safety, home ownernship (rent vs. own), politics and things to do in the area.
The Top 10 list, which includes some of our favorites, is led by Princeton. With its beautiful downtown area at Palmer Square and Nassau Street, expansive library, Princeton University and a high-quality public elementary and secondary school system, and high level of safety, it’s the perfect town for those raising a family or who want to live there as a young professional.
Nearby Princeton Junction, which is technically part of West Windsor, has many of the same benefits. Princeton Junction was the highest-ranked NJ town on Niche’s Best Places to Live in America for 2023, receiving a grade of A+ and a placement of 14. With a nice suburban feel, the landscape is dotted with parks, and families flock here for the highly-rated schools. There’s also a station stop along the Northeast Corridor Line so adults can live outside of the city while having a quick commute.
Ho-Ho-Kus, located in Bergen County, has a really cute downtown, too, with shops and restaurants. There’s lots of history here, including a racetrack dating back to 1867, and a trolley from the early 1900s. The Hermitage is a beautiful place to learn about Native American history. Learn more about the town on Ho-Ho-Kus Day, which this year is September 9.
The Top 9 towns all received A+ grades for overall school and public schools; Upper Montclair received an A for its school system. There are 25 towns total that received A+ grades. Here are the Top 10 towns on Niche’s list:
- Princeton
- Princeton Junction
- Ho-Ho-Kus
- Ridgewood
- River Edge
- Closter
- Berkeley Heights Township
- Harrington Park
- Mountain Lakes
- Upper Montclair
Read More:
These Are The Best Places to Live in New Jersey
These Are The Best Towns in New Jersey
‘Money’ Magazine Says These Are The Top Places to Live in NJ
These NJ Towns Are the Best to Live in America