These 5 NJ Towns Among Best Places To Live In U.S., New Report Says

NEW JERSEY — Five places in New Jersey are among the top 100 best places to live in America, according to rankings released Monday by Niche.

The list, the ninth consecutive, ranked 228 cities and 17,932 towns and neighborhoods. To compile it, Niche used federal data from the Census Bureau, FBI, Labor Bureau and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as reviews from residents.

Among others, factors considered are affordability, the local housing market, neighborhood diversity, the quality of public schools, crime, and walkability.

The overall Best Place to Live in America is Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania, which has claimed the title now for four consecutive years. Rounding out the top five are Colonial Village, Virginia; Ardmore, Pennsylvania; Hyde Park-Spanishtown Creek, Florida; and Penn Wynne, Pennsylvania.

Below are the New Jersey places that made the top 100 list from Niche, and their overall rating:

14. Princeton Junction (A+)
34. Princeton (A+)
47. Ho-Ho-Kus (A+)
69. Ridgewood (A+)
74. River Edge (A+)

When just looking at cities, Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the Best City to Live in America for the first time ever, Niche said. Rounding out the top five are Arlington, Virginia; The Woodlands, Texas; Naperville, Illinois; and Columbia, Maryland.

In the top 100, Jersey City ranked 78th on the Best Cities to Live in America, receiving an A- grade overall the following grades by category:

Public schools: C+
Housing: C-
Good for families: B+
Jobs: C+
Cost of living: C
Outdoor activities: A
Crime and safety: C
Nightlife: A+
Diversity: A+
Weather: B-
Health and fitness: A
Commute: A-

The Best Places to Live rankings are a tool to help people find a place to live based on the qualities that matter most to them, Niche said in a news release.

People who want to dig deeper into a specific area can compare cities, suburbs and neighborhoods with specific states, metro areas and counties. Among others, Niche has specialized lists for the best places for families, young professionals, homebuyers and retirees.

Patch's national desk contributed to this report.