New Jersey cities

The best places to live in New Jersey

New Jersey's largest cities ranked on cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life. Colonia leads the list.

We scored New Jersey's cities on the same factors as our state rankings, then ranked them. Below are the 10 largest by population. Two scores per city: value (what you get for the cost) and overall livability (everything combined). Tap any city for its full profile.

#CityMedian homeRentValueOverall
25 Bayonne $359,800 $1,394 44 60
32 Clifton $369,800 $1,490 45 53
36 Toms River $307,700 $1,488 65 50
37 Camden $85,800 $999 56 50
52 Jersey City $437,200 $1,611 32 42
62 Elizabeth $314,500 $1,281 22 36
68 Trenton $96,700 $1,113 56 29
76 Newark $271,700 $1,167 8 17
77 Paterson $269,200 $1,278 12 16
78 Passaic $347,900 $1,246 8 15

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Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income and jobs from the U.S. Census; schools from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. Rankings are within New Jersey. Updated 2026.