2017 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New JerseyAbout this List

Short Hills

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 26

Current Resident: I like feeling safe here. You can walk out in the middle of the night without any fear of being attacked or watched. I sometimes don't like the people that these million dollar homes attract. There are many snobs, especially at school. However, if you want a great high school education and a family-friendly place, this is a great place.
Read 26 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 12,831 Population

Chatham Township

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 7

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 10,569 Population

Tenafly

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 16

Current Resident: Very safe area, good for raising a family, excellent public schools, but also incredibly boring. There are also a ton of nail salons in town.
Read 16 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 14,788 Population

Ridgewood

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 20

Works Here: Ridgewood is a great town for young adults to raise their children. Ridgewood is a very tight knit community where everyone helps out and knows one another. The center of town has a good amount of shops and top rated restaurants in the county which attracts a very positive ribe throughout the town. Ridgewood residents are great supporters of the local businesses. Also, young children used the center of town as a safe haven to meet up with friends. They utilize the shops, restaurants, and movie theater; everything is within walking distance! Ridgewood has a fantastic school system that challenges students and allows for high college acceptance rates. The faulty is outstanding and does not leave anyone behind. Ridgewood's school system also offers a wide variety of afterschool activities for the children, including camps at the town pool! Overall Ridgewood is an outstanding town and a wonderful community for families to grow.
Read 20 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 25,370 Population

Chatham

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 18

Current Resident: It was rated one of the best town in America. It has everything in a beautiful wooded suburb. Quick access to anywhere. Highway takes you to the airport in 20 minutes, great school system and great restaurants and food with in a 5 mile radius. Top shopping at the Short Hill Mall 2 miles away.
Read 18 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 9,011 Population

Summit

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 17

Current Resident: Summit is great! I highly recommend it because the academics at Summit high School are great. Also, the downtown is very nice and active. Also, the sports teams have great success, especially the lacrosses in Summit.
Read 17 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 21,869 Population

North Caldwell

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 7

Niche User: If you love being surrounded by extremely intellectual people, this is the place to be. The education system is one of the top in the state and people are all friendly. Taxes are expensive, but close proximity to New York City and other opportunities make it worth it. There is a large Jewish population.
Read 7 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 6,415 Population

Bernards Township

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 32

Niche User: This area has an amazing education and great schools to enroll children in for all ages. The atmosphere of Basking Ridge is friendly and welcoming. You can walk around feeling completely safe. Basking Ridge is considered a wealthy town and does have its low moments of "big egos". However, this is the town I grew up in and I will always pick my home town over other towns. I have networked here for my major in college as well as with friends and other families, it is where I have come to know and will always love!
Read 32 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 26,983 Population

New Providence

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 12

Niche User: This area is family friendly with small communities and great schools. Everyone is proud to be from here and love to visit New York or the jersey shore. I think this is the best area in the country because there is a whole huge cluster of nothing but nice towns. The bonus of having these nice towns here in particular are the short distances to New York, the shore, and shopping. I think this area will continue to grow in the future because people want to get into the school districts. I would choose to live here again and hope that I am able to when I am older.
Read 12 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 12,355 Population

Glen Ridge

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 13

Niche User: This area of New Jersey is very desirable. The schools are great, the general atmosphere is one of wealth and safety, and it is very close to New York City. There is easily accessible public transportation, has "mom and pop" shops as well as chain stores, and has almost everything one could need for a fulfilling existence within a 15 mile radius. I would love to raise my family in this area one day. Not only would I be close to my family, my children would have the opportunity to enjoy this lovely area as much as I do.
Read 13 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 7,607 Population

Haworth

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 1

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 3,451 Population

Westfield

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 42

Current Resident: Westfield is a great town! I am a current high school student, and despite the cut throat high school, the competition has helped me grow and learn how to return from failure. I have made some of my closest friends through our after school activities. I love downtown westfield, and the proximity of my home to the high school.
Read 42 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 30,552 Population

Bradley Gardens

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 4

Niche User: As long as you have a car, you don't need to go very far to sustain a lifestyle. Multiple supermarkets are within the municipality borders. Projects such as the Route 22 expansion show that the government is interested in improving public services. Within the surrounding towns, there are both homes and apartments. The air is clean, and there is still plenty of greenery. New York City is an hour-long drive away although you could also take NJ Transit, which has a few stations on the Raritan Valley line nearby.
Read 4 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 13,994 Population

Allendale

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 18

Niche User: The town I live in is great. I've been blessed with a great education, nice friends, safe home, and so much more. It is an ideal place to raise kids. The only reason why I am not saying that my town "is the best" is because with so many great things, it sets people up for failure. My high school is ranked third in the state; our school sports teams are constantly winning championships; our students are going to the best colleges. This is all great, but if you aren't a star athlete, top notch student, or something like a prodigy, then you feel an external pressure from everyone's success around you. Other than that, however, my town is great.
Read 18 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 6,717 Population

Glen Rock

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 22

Current Resident: GR is a great little town- close to NYC & culture, easy access to mountains & the beach. Pretty streets & houses, nice people, & a cute little downtown. You know everyone & they know you (the +/- of such a small town). A bit insane for sports & academics. Students feel pressured to succeed/excel, but there is lots of support to help you. Kids from GR go to a wide variety of excellent colleges, but not many to the Ivy's.
Read 22 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 11,859 Population

Mountain Lakes

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 12

Current Resident: Mountain Lakes is incredibly safe, relaxed and beautiful. A perfect place to settle down and have kids, considering the outstanding education at our highly ranked schools. There is a tremendous sense of community, but it is gossip-y and sports-focused, with many stay-at-home moms, rather than a blend of many types of personalities and cultures. Aside from the town specifically, it is in a fantastic area - very close to New York City, Pennsylvania, the Jersey Shore, and countless varieties of food and entertainment.
Read 12 Reviews

• A+

• A+

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• 4,262 Population

Heathcote

• Suburb in New Jersey

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 5,802 Population

Berkeley Heights Township

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 14

Niche User: I love where I grew up. I know now that I grew up in a very sheltered environment but it helped shape me in the best possible way. Often times people are stereotyped as snobby for living here. My parents taught me responsibility and hard work, so while I lived around many kids who never had to work, I've been working since I was sixteen. Great community, those with humble values will be successful and happy.
Read 14 Reviews

• A+

• A+

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• 13,339 Population

Upper Saddle River

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 12

Niche User: My community is a great place to live if you like quiet areas and your privacy. There is a lot of nature, the roads and public areas are kept very nicely, and there is a great elementary and middle school. However, there is no town center, so that should be part of your consideration.
Read 12 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 8,335 Population

Ho-Ho-Kus

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 7

Niche User: As a long time NJ resident we looked closely at every town in Northern NJ and HHK had the best of everything we were looking for. The schools were great, lots of well educated families, a town you could walk to, great restaurants, the ability to get really involved in the town or not at all and reasonable taxes compared to the rest of Bergen County. After 6 years of living here my wife and I agree this is the best town to live in and raise a family.
Read 7 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 4,132 Population

Demarest

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 4

Niche User: I met some of my best friends here, had my most memorable experiences and received an amazing education in school before I left for college.
Read 4 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 5,004 Population

Mendham Township

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 10

Niche User: I feel very, very safe in this town and area. Police are visible and there isn't a very high prevalence of crime to my knowledge.
Read 10 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 5,885 Population

Dayton

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 27

Current Resident: The suburb is cozy and small enough to encourage interactions between neighbors and peer residents. There's need for updated street lamps and certain areas don't even have street lamps, which is neglection on part of township initiative despite high tax collections. Mixed variety of populations with mid to high middle class category.
Read 27 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 7,388 Population

Fanwood

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 6

Current Resident: Fanwood is a small, one square mile town in North Jersey. Fanwood is very family friendly, having a lot of young families in the neighborhood. Fanwood is also very safe, guarded by the adept Fanwood Police Department, clean, and close-knit. The downtown area has a couple of cute cafes, along with four nail salons, and a couple gas stations. The town is not very lively, nor are the public school systems known for having a strong academic reputation, but the town has made significant changes in infrastructure over the years. Would recommend Fanwood for a young family, older couple, or anyone looking for a quiet small town in which to reside.
Read 6 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 7,479 Population

Livingston Township

• Suburb in New Jersey
• 68

Current Resident: Livingston is a very safe, reliable place to live in. The crime is extremely low and the school system is great. The public schools in Livingston are elite and challenge the students to excel to the best of their abilities. Overall the town is safe and quiet.
Read 68 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A+

• 29,674 Population