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2018 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New JerseyAbout this List

Explore the best suburbs to raise a family based on public schools, crime rates, cost of living, and family-friendly amenities. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other data sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

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  1. Upper Montclair

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 34
    1 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: I have been living in Upper Montclair, New Jersey since I was born, which is eighteen years. My town is very family friendly with multiple parks where children can play and adults can walk or bike around. There are hundreds of restaurants and local grocery stores where people can buy their food or sit down with friends. Every single person, whether it is your neighbor or someone walking down the street, is very kind and sociable. We are an extremely diverse community with different ethnicities and filled with people from around the world. Upper Montclair is very eco-friendly as we reduce the amount of waste by reusing and recycling items and people contribute to the environment by planting trees and tending to their gardens. I always feel a sense of protection when walking down a street which is provided by our local police department. I genuinely enjoy living in Upper Montclair as I have made many friends in this beautiful town!
    Read 34 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 11,731 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  2. Short Hills

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 30
    2 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: Postcard-perfect town with great location for commuting to NYC. Insane academic competition in high school. Downtown could use more nightlife. Lots of working families but also more than a few billionaires and multi-millionaires. Most residents seem to work in finance or law.
    Read 30 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 12,771 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  3. Haworth

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 2
    3 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: Haworth is a small town surrounded by Dumont,Closter,Emerson, Demarest and Oradell. If you blink you might miss it. Lived here for almost two years and it's been nice. Quiet town and very relaxing. Not much shopping in town. It is however, surrounded by other towns with many shopping amenities. There is a small business district with some decent stores, hardware, post office, quick mart, dry cleaner, Italian, cafe, liquor store, florist, apothecary, etc. Some charming aspects of the town are the duck pond, the deer roaming around(not too bad), lush greenery of surrounding Haworth country club and the little overpass bridge. Not much diversity but we have easy access to NYC through the 186, 177x through the Massachusetts ave stop. Driving to NYC is even shorter. If you are looking for a quaint, safe town with good schools to raise your family, it's a good choice. Housing is expensive but there are entry level houses with a decent size available. We are happy here!
    Read 2 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 3,446 Population
    View Nearby Homes
  4. How Much Home Can You Afford?

  5. Glen Ridge

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 15
    4 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: Overall, Glen Ridge is a really solid town to live in. Growing up, I remember experiencing many amazing memories in the town. Many people from other towns would flock on Halloween night, because everyone in Glen Ridge really celebrate all holidays to the max. From block parties to great sports games through the well-run GRAA program, Glen Ridge truly offers kids a lot of opportunities to grow in a tight-knit community. The one draw back is that at times it can be too tight, as it has received the nickname "Glen Ridge Bubble".
    Read 15 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 7,615 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  6. Bernards Township

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 34
    5 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: Living in Bernards Township has been in general a good experience, it is safe, the schools are very good and families get very involved. It is located near major highways which makes communing easy. It has a quaint historic Downtown. The green areas make a picturesque town. Residents in this town like to keep their homes updated. Real estate is very good. I have spoken to people that live in other towns who told me good opinions about this town. In fact some of them expressed they would like to move to Bernards Township. I have enjoyed living in this town and would to stay in this neighborhood for many more years.
    Read 34 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 27,014 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  7. Allendale

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 18
    6 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    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+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 6,767 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  10. Tenafly

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 26
    7 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: I like Tenafly because it is very quiet and a good place to live. The people here are nice and friendly. They are welcoming and the restaurants here are good!
    Read 26 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 14,821 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  11. Ridgewood

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 27
    8 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    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 27 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 25,430 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  12. Chatham

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 26
    9 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: I love Chatham! I've lived here almost my whole life and it's such a great town to grow up in. It's safe, has amazing schools, a cute downtown, and it close to NYC. What more could you want? The taxes are pretty high, but that's for our schools. I wouldn't live in Chatham just to live here, but I think it's a great town to raise your kids.
    Read 26 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 9,030 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  14. Monmouth Junction

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 5
    10 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: I like the diversity in Monmouth. There are a lot of different races and the schools are very cool too, the shops are close for you to go shop. The saftey of this city is more better than other places I have visited. The environment around here is friendly people are very nice and not rude. The neighborhood is not scary at all there are kids playing around the park and moms all around the spirit of the schools here are very great the students get really enthusiastic about things going on in the community. I love Monmouth junction and it will be hard to leave that's why I feel like living next to south Brunswick to be more close when I go to college. I love Monmouth junction this is where family is.
    Read 5 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 3,199 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  15. Mountain Lakes

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 13
    11 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: There's no place like this town! Call it Mayberry or Camelot, it's a special place to both grow up and raise children. Nine lakes, family activities, welcoming community, active volunteers, GREAT SCHOOLS, beautiful hills, trees and historic homes. You know your children's friends and parents. They have a welcoming cocktail party each year for new residents! I grew up here and raised back to raise my children here. I'd rather have my kids ride their bike to school or the beach than ride a train to Manhattan. What's your priority? This town is a gem!
    Read 13 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 4,287 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Ho-Ho-Kus

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 7
    12 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    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+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 4,139 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  19. Glen Rock

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 29
    13 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: Glen Rock has some of the top schools in state, is on the train line to Manhattan, has excellent sports teams, virtually ZERO crime and the value of your homes will just continue to rise. It's truly an amazing place to raise a family. Has a cute downtown and is a stones throw away to ridgewood without all of the riff raff that comes in from neighboring towns. A+ for Glen Rock.
    Read 29 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 11,887 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  20. Westfield

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 54
    14 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: Great town with nice people and lots of options especially if you have a family. Lots of restaurants, walking options, interesting events, and diverse political perspectives. Schools are excellent overall; however recent changes in the administration at Jefferson School have seemed to create an unhealthy tension; teachers have worn black to protest the new principal’s behavior and policies. Stress leaves for staff are higher than any other school. At some point this will need to be addressed, as it is beginning to negatively impact parents and students.
    Read 54 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 30,438 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  21. New Providence

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 16
    15 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: New Providence is a rare gem of a town - really hearkens back to the time when communities really knows (and want to know) and cares about each other. Newcomers feel welcome and most importantly safe. Though it is an affluent town, it does not have the air or reputation of cliches. The community is diverse and fosters a feeling of inclusiveness. You truly get the feeling of being home in this town, even if you did not grow up there. It's a small town that have a lot of character and amenities with the convenience of top rated schools, shopping, gym, restaurants and great community and recreational facilities. Great for commuters with two direct train stations to NYC and less than 20 mins drive to Morristown. The only major downside of New Providence is the in high property tax as Union County unfortunately shares the reputation with several other NJ counties with highest property taxes in the country.
    Read 16 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 12,434 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  22. Haddonfield

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 16
    16 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Former Resident: Historic Haddonfield is great for all ages. The downtown area is great for day trippers or locals who want to window shop, grab brunch at the Bistro, or take a walk past "Haddy" the Hadrosaurus dinosaur. Along with all of the historical homes & taverns & dinosaurs, Haddonfield holds a wonderful reputation in their school system as well as their athletics...ranked top in the state of New Jersey and nationwide!
    Read 16 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 11,444 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  23. Summit

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 24
    17 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Nearby Resident: Summit, New Jersey is filled with many great things: excellent education for the young ones, strong sport programs, plenty of greenery, and a nice downtown where you and your friends can dine at numerous restaurants, go shopping, or just spend the afternoon at an art shop. As a nearby resident, I have traveled through Summit nearly every day. I like that it is safe, clean, has easy access to transportation (has a train station and buses), and there isn't much traffic. New York City is also very accessible from Summit. It can be anywhere between a 30 minute to an hour commuting.
    Read 24 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 21,895 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Fanwood

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 8
    18 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: I love Fanwood!! I moved to Fanwood with my family when I was about to start Kindergarten, and have made my way through the public school system before applying and being accepted to amazing universities across the country.

    From the moment we moved in, we have had an amazing relationship with our neighbors and the other people living around us. I grew up rollerblading, biking and scootering around on my street, which though off a main road, is quiet enough for young kids to play on.

    There are also great local parks, YMCA's, and pools (shout out Willow Grove Swim Club) and the train station is right in down town.
    Read 8 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 7,530 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  27. North Caldwell

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 8
    19 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: I personally believe the academic, professional and personal experiences of North Caldwell residents promotes a diverse, equitable and civic community. Fiscally responsible practices benefit our overall community.
    Read 8 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 6,519 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  28. Mendham Township

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 11
    20 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Former Resident: Absolutely loved it . Loved growing up in the area. Beautiful scenery. Great places to visit and great scenic drives. Mild winters.
    Read 11 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 5,892 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  29. Demarest

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 4
    21 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    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+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 5,007 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  30. Berkeley Heights Township

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 17
    22 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: Berkeley Heights is a town where everyone is a part of a large family. On multiple occasions the town has come together to help each other out. For instance, when the town's favorite supermarket employee was seen walking to work from 3 towns over because his bike had broken down, the people of Berkeley Heights raised over $500 to get him a new bike.
    Read 17 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 13,387 Population
    View Nearby Homes
  31. Review Your Area

  32. Dayton

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 29
    23 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: I think that the education system in Dayton, NJ is definitely one of the best and is the main reason why my parents chose to settle down in Dayton. South Brunswick High School is a very intense public school, which makes it great for children because it truly prepares them for the reality of college. It is a relatively safe middle-upper middle class town, with a pretty low crime rate. Dayton is great for younger families, however it would not be fun for young adults without children. There are a lot of places to eat but there isn't much outside of that; there is no solid nightlife or fun spot for young adults. Being a current resident at 22 years of age, I find myself going to the neighboring towns/cities of New Brunswick or Princeton for a nice experiences.
    Read 29 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 7,308 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  33. Highland Park

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 30
    24 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Current Resident: Highland Park consistently tries to improve and takes advantage of a strong volunteer community. It is ethnically, racially and economically diverse, resulting in a rich community culture. It is very walkable and continually adds to it walking and biking infrastructure, and neighborhoods are within 1/2-1 mile of the New Brunswick train station. It has very good public schools supported by a high school district tax and little state aid. It has a nice and improving downtown, good restaurants, a growing arts sector and many community activities. It's proximity to New Brunswick also provides many very high quality arts, entertainment and eating opportunities.
    Read 30 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 14,245 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  34. Springdale

    • Suburb in New Jersey
    • 15
    25 Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in New Jersey

    Niche User: I grew up here, and it is one of my favorite places in the world. Almost no crime, really good schools that prepared me well, close enough to Philly to do things but far enough away to be different as well. Within 20-30 minutes you can be in Philly and the rest of the time you can be in an idyllic place really.
    Read 15 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Good for Families
    • 13,955 Population
    View Nearby Homes
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