2023 Best Places to Raise a Family in Morris County

• Suburb in New Jersey

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  Rating 4.48 out of 5  29 reviews

Current Resident: You’ll wish you grew up here! Luckily, I did, and moved back to raise our children. So many Lakers who grew up here have moved back here the past few years because they appreciate the wonderful community, top schools, great recreation with many lakes and hiking! It’s a real testament to our town. So easy to make friends here. I love the history of the town too. The town celebrates the history and is protective of the charm and natural setting.... Read 29 reviews

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• Population 4,464

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  Rating 3.23 out of 5  13 reviews

Visitor: Chatham Township is a great place for families. Safe neighborhoods with community friendly neighbors and commutes of just minutes away from schools. The properties are a good size and most houses are very well kept. Just a train ride away from New York City. There are many different shops, restaurants and entrainment for anyone. A very lovely place to live would definitely recommend.... Read 13 reviews

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• Population 10,913

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  Rating 4.05 out of 5  39 reviews

Current Resident: Quiet place to live, lovely atmosphere with many parks and hiking options. I love to go to the bike path right by my house and I can go 6 miles there! Also close to Delaware water gap (about 1 hr via car). Good for commuting to the city too (lots of trains).... Read 39 reviews

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• Population 9,208

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  Rating 3.85 out of 5  13 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Mendham Township for 15 years. I have raised my children and now my granddaughter is enjoying Mendham. The school system is extraordinary from full day Kindergarten to the highly ranked West Morris High School. My son said he was well prepared to face the academic demands of Engineering studies. Most of his friends also excelled in college. As for my husband and I we enjoy the outdoors every day, play paddle and tennis at Mendham Golf and Tennis, which is a relaxed informal sports club and have made good life long friends. So I can highly endorse the lifestyle offered by this area. I can also say we have the cleanest water from our well. And the air quality is without question clean.... Read 13 reviews

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• Population 5,998

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  15 reviews

Current Resident: We moved here a little over a year ago and we love this town! if you are looking for a town to hang out late at night this is not it. This is mainly a town to raise a family in and feel that pride in home-ownership and sense of belonging. There is a very small down town that if you are lucky like us to be within walking distance, you can enjoy quick walk to the little ice cream shop or to the black horse. The architecture over all is very quaint and historic. There are not too many places but the ones we have we have found some of the best foods, like Sapori d' Italia, Aoyama, Sammy's, etc.... Read 15 reviews

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• Population 4,976

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  Rating 4.47 out of 5  30 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived in Madison for my entire life (I'm currently 19 years old) and it is such an amazing place to grow up. The education and extracurriculars in the schools are top-notch, it's a beautiful town, there are many great places to workout and enjoy nature, it's very safe, and the people make up such a loving and close-knit (but not too close) community. I really can't imagine a better place for me to have grown up and I would be lucky to raise my children here one day. One thing that I'll say for people who are in their 20s or older is that there isn't a lot of night life (it's not always the most exciting place) but I believe surrounding towns have good places to go to. It's also on the train line so there's easy access to surrounding towns and NYC!... Read 30 reviews

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• Population 16,819

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  Rating 4.47 out of 5  15 reviews

Current Resident: Great town, lots to do and convenient to so many other towns. Great sense of community and diversity.... Read 15 reviews

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• Population 23,049

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  Rating 3.98 out of 5  81 reviews

Current Resident: Overall, a wonderful place to live! The school system is wonderful; it is also home to the local community college, which is rated as one of the best in the nation. There are a lot of diverse dining and shopping opportunities within town or a short enough drive away. Unfortunately, however, there is no true town center - you will have to go to neighboring towns for that. Access to numerous highways is very easy, and there are a number of well-regarded hospitals in close proximity (including Morristown Medical Center, which is a Trauma 1 Center). It is also home to Shongum Lake; should you purchase a home with lake rights, make sure to take advantage of the many family-oriented activities, swimming lessons, fishing opportunities, and ice skating, and more - weather permitting, of course! The lake also owns a home across the street that one can rent for private events.... Read 81 reviews

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• Population 26,433

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  Rating 3.22 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: I am 19 and have lived in Boonton Township my whole life. I went to RVS from K through 8th grades and felt academically satisfied while making plenty of close friendships. I commute into the city for work, and although it is long it is manageable, and there are a variety of ways to make the commute.... Read 9 reviews

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• Population 4,375

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  Rating 3.77 out of 5  44 reviews

Former Resident: If you love lakes, hills and the suburbs, then this is definitely the place for you. It belongs to Morris County. One of the largest counties in New Jersey. Back in the day everyone from the city escaped to their country summer home here. Now it is year round residents that reside. It is pricey to live here, but then most places in New Jersey are pricey to live in. Summer Recreation is offered by the township. Junior police academy is one camp option if you are an exercise person. There are all types of housing available from the exclusive Smoke Rise for executive housing to Fayson Lakes housing converted from summer homes to residential housing. Each area has a lake to offer cooling off in on those hot summer days.... Read 44 reviews

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• Population 9,994

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  Rating 4.26 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: Florham Park is a nice quaint town, and the people that reside in it are very involved in the community and the betterment of Florham Park. Florham Park does tons of events and festivities year-round, especially near the area surrounding the library and the town swimming pool. I believe anybody would enjoy living in Florham Park because it is peaceful, not too busy and it isn't boring at the same time, and it is just a blast to be in a community where everyone is close-knit and involved within the community. The school system in Florham Park is also really good which is great for people looking to settle down and start a family in a town, where they know their child will receive a great education.... Read 19 reviews

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• Population 12,655

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  32 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Long Hill for over 8 years now and I love it! It's the kind of place where you see the same people and everyone is generally friendly. While there really is no nightlife, you can go to 12 Islands or the Stirling Hotel if you want to stay out a little late. If I ever moved, I hope my next place has a similar feel to Long Hill.... Read 32 reviews

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• Population 8,649

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  Rating 3.48 out of 5  31 reviews

Niche User: I love this area. It's quiet, small town that engulfs a big lake. The only thing to watch out for are bears because they stroll around because there are a lot of woods where i live and there's beaches and parks nearby too! I use to go to the park to play tennis before i joined a tennis team. I would live here again because it was great but i would rather live in California because the weather there is much better than the weather in New Jersey and I believe they do not get as much snow as we do here in New Jersey.... Read 31 reviews

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• Population 9,069

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  Rating 3.76 out of 5  37 reviews

Current Resident: Montville is a green paradise. Calm, quiet, in the middle of the woods. An amazing schools system and with a fast access to highways. It’s a great place for who love the nature and stay in a comfortable area distant from traffic and noise.... Read 37 reviews

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• Population 22,340

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  Rating 3.7 out of 5  23 reviews

Former Resident: Chester Township is a wonderful place to grow up. I loved the schools and the people. I do think that the town should fill the empty store locations, including Larison's turkey Farm. This would help the town dramatically. The downtown of Chester is quaint and always hustling especially around the Apple picking season.... Read 23 reviews

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• Population 7,747

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  Rating 3.75 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: In my town, Harding, there are occasional car robberies and car break ins but the police eventually catch them. The police force is visible and active.... Read 4 reviews

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• Population 3,871

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  Rating 3.94 out of 5  119 reviews

Current Resident: Parsippany is known for its adventure sports, natural landscapes, shopping center, food and drinks, and a lot more. We enjoy the many parks and hiking trail for recreation. Parsippany offers a great school system and is very family friendly. Great place to raise kids. Parsippany also has also of job opportunities as many fortune 500 companies are right in town. Commute can be made very easy by leaving and working in Parsippany. Parsippany also has very good food, especially the Indian and Italian food. Please visit as we have many hotels and suites to stay.... Read 119 reviews

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• Population 55,848

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  Rating 4.83 out of 5  6 reviews

Current Resident: Great school system; teachers are very good, many activities to participate. Safe town, no crime. Besides being very charming historical town, it has many farms nearby; a great place to raise kids. Easy transportation to New York from Morristown. Also many social and cultural activities in and around Chester... Read 6 reviews

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• Population 1,591

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  Rating 3.96 out of 5  51 reviews

Nearby Resident: Main Street has mom-and-pop shops all down it. Denville Dairy is a very popular spot for socializing and getting their great ice cream. Various events are held throughout the year for which the area is blocked and closed off. The latest event was family movie night on a big blow-up screen. It is in the suburbs but you get both country and city life vibes. It accommodates housing for all income levels from the big new mansions to your older, smaller houses. It hosts restaurants, bars, pubs, convenience stores, educational tutoring and so much more. The children's park was just newly renovated to modern standards and it is situated right next to all of the sports fields, so for parents with young children going to a game there is entertainment for their children available to them while they can sit and watch the game or peak at it from the playground area. The Rockaway Mall is just minutes away for a fabulous shopping experience. You will find everything that you are looking for here.... Read 51 reviews

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• Population 17,068

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  Rating 3.63 out of 5  41 reviews

Current Resident: I like the small, hometown feel. It is part of the larger Mt Olive Township, so share schools. Would love to see the neighborhood elementary schools kept.... Read 41 reviews

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• Population 9,971

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  Rating 4.4 out of 5  15 reviews

Current Resident: I love Morris Plains because of how perfectly suburban the town is. It is the perfect distance from any big cities like Morristown and even New York City, but it is far enough away to be calm and casual. The safety here is great and the firehouses are plentiful. The town is very diverse and friendly. I love living here!... Read 15 reviews

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• Population 6,081

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  Rating 4 out of 5  26 reviews

Current Resident: Hanover Township is a tight-knit, welcoming community located in New Jersey. I enjoy being acquainted with a majority of Hanover Township's residents. It is comforting to see many familiar faces while accomplishing daily tasks.... Read 26 reviews

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• Population 14,563

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  Rating 3.73 out of 5  26 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Lincoln Park for much of my life, and the entire time the town has been pleasant. It is a smaller town so night life and recreation is limited, however it has several parks and sports fields. It also features many great restaurants and several stripmalls with shops. Almost everything you will need on a daily basis is available to you in town, including a Shoprite, Ace Hardware, several gas stations/repair shops, and public schooling for pre-k, elementary, and middle schoolers. Many of the complaints come form prices of living, which are in line with other nearby towns. Lincoln park is a safe place to live with a local police force and fire station. Commute times are short-average since it is close to many larger towns/cities allowing for a short 40 minute ride to Manhattan, 30 minutes to Newark, and 35 minutes to Hoboken. Overall, Lincoln park is a good place for a family to live, as it provides easy access to the city, safety, and necessities near by.... Read 26 reviews

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• Population 10,877

• Suburb in New Jersey

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• Population 1,230

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  Rating 4.19 out of 5  47 reviews

Current Resident: Morristown is an amazing town to live in. While providing a "mini-city" feel, the town also offers amazing trails, lakes, parks, woods, and cozy suburban neighborhoods. The town is young, diverse, and has incredible restaurants, bars, and cultural centers. The education system is also great, and the town is very family friendly! A great place to live!... Read 47 reviews

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• Population 20,003