Community Corner

NJ Towns Graded, From A+ To D-: How Did Your Community Do?

You may be surprised to see what towns are graded, on an A+-to-D- scale, as the best and worst places to live on a New Jersey "report card."

This is one heck of a report card. And you may want to think twice about living in a place that was graded with a D-.

Niche has come out with its new 2017 rankings of the "Best Places to Live" in New Jersey, but it took a bit of a unique approach: The consumer rankings service assigned a grade, on an A+-to-D- scale, to almost every town in the state.

Fourteen towns received A+ grades, topped with the Heathcote section of South Brunswick and West Windsor Township in Mercer County. Three towns received D- grades: the Brookfield section of White Township; Blairstown in Warren County; and the Asbury section of Franklin Township in Warren County (not to be confused with Asbury Park, which received a C+).

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To arrive at the rankings, Niche.com took several factors into consideration, such as the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment statistics and access to amenities.

Niche created a standardized score for each factor, and after weighting each factor, an overall score was calculated, which was again given a new standardized score.

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Finally, Niche.com created a numerical ranking and assigned grades for each place. Click here to read more about the methodology.

Here are the New Jersey towns, and how they were graded:

A+

  1. Heathcote (section of South Brunswick)
  2. West Windsor Township
  3. Plainsboro
  4. Princeton
  5. Montgomery
  6. Short Hills
  7. South Brunswick
  8. Ridgewood
  9. Chatham
  10. Edison
  11. Franklin Park
  12. Parsippany-Troy Hills
  13. Millburn

A

  1. Metuchen
  2. Lawrence Township (Mercer County)
  3. New Providence
  4. North Caldwell
  5. Clinton
  6. Morris Township
  7. Upper Montclair
  8. Haddonfield
  9. Franklin Township (Somerset County)
  10. Franklin Township (Hunterdon County)
  11. Somerset
  12. Dayton (section of South Brunswick)
  13. Kendall Park (section of South Brunswick)
  14. Edgewater
  15. Lawrenceville
  16. Randolph
  17. Green Knoll
  18. Summit
  19. Glen Rock
  20. Upper Saddle River
  21. Madison
  22. River Edge
  23. Morristown
  24. East Brunswick
  25. Bridgewater
  26. Florham Park
  27. Highland Park
  28. Cranford
  29. Moorestown
  30. Bernards
  31. Society Hill
  32. Cherry Hill
  33. Hillsborough
  34. Woodbury
  35. Hanover
  36. Livingston
  37. Tenafly
  38. Piscataway
  39. Teaneck
  40. Westfield
  41. Fanwood
  42. Fair Lawn Suburb
  43. Pennington
  44. Ramblewood
  45. Hillsdale
  46. River Vale
  47. Cherry Hill
  48. Fords (section of Woodbridge)
  49. Fort Lee
  50. Mount Laurel
  51. Hoboken
  52. Bergenfield
  53. Bedminster
  54. Rocky Hill
  55. North Brunswick
  56. Montclair
  57. Martinsville
  58. Raritan
  59. West Amwell Township
  60. Mendham
  61. Wyckoff
  62. Springdale
  63. Cresskill
  64. Mountain Lakes
  65. Annandale
  66. Branchburg
  67. Somerville
  68. Bernardsville
  69. Ocean Township
  70. South Orange
  71. Lambertville
  72. Woodbridge
  73. Surf City
  74. Mahwah
  75. Evesham Township
  76. Westampton Township
  77. Green Brook
  78. Butler
  79. Glen Ridge
  80. Demarest
  81. East Rutherford
  82. Laurel Springs
  83. East Hanover Township
  84. Harrington Park
  85. Washington Township (Morris County)

A-

  1. Maplewood
  2. Delran
  3. Califon
  4. Haworth
  5. Closter
  6. Iselin (section of Woodbridge)
  7. Marlboro
  8. Peapack and Gladstone
  9. Tewksbury
  10. Warren
  11. East Windsor
  12. Chester
  13. Fairview
  14. Strathmore
  15. Montvale
  16. Manasquan
  17. Wanamassa
  18. Denville Township
  19. Hopewell
  20. Ashland
  21. Marlton
  22. Berkeley Heights
  23. Ramsey
  24. Middletown
  25. Little Silver
  26. Spring Lake Heights
  27. Old Tappan
  28. Medford
  29. Old Bridge
  30. Woodcliff Lake
  31. Westwood
  32. Spring Lake
  33. Harding Township
  34. Paramus
  35. Leonia
  36. Sea Girt
  37. Ho-Ho-Kus
  38. Oakland
  39. South Plainfield
  40. Lincroft (section of Middletown)
  41. Union Township
  42. Aberdeen
  43. Harvey Cedars
  44. Rumson
  45. Red Bank
  46. Cranbury
  47. Monmouth Junction (section of South Brunswick)
  48. Griggstown
  49. Voorhees
  50. Midland Park
  51. Readington Township
  52. Hightstown
  53. Holmdel
  54. Beach Haven
  55. Rutherford
  56. Wayne
  57. Allendale
  58. Ocean City
  59. Secaucus
  60. Lebanon
  61. Weehawken
  62. Roxbury Township
  63. Springfield Township (Union County)
  64. Avenel (section of Woodbridge)
  65. Kinnelon
  66. Robertsville
  67. Englewood
  68. Long Beach Township
  69. Dumont
  70. Montville
  71. Brookdale
  72. Bordentown
  73. Atlantic Highlands
  74. Oradell
  75. Allentown
  76. Hainesport
  77. Mount Holly
  78. Ship Bottom
  79. Interlaken
  80. Milltown
  81. Roseland
  82. Laurence Harbor (section of Lacey Township)
  83. Stone Harbor
  84. Scotch Plains
  85. Woodstown
  86. Woolwich Township
  87. West Orange
  88. Waldwick
  89. Fieldsboro
  90. Brielle
  91. Haddon Township
  92. Haddon Heights S
  93. Verona
  94. Clementon
  95. Lumberton Township
  96. Long Hill
  97. Hasbrouck Heights
  98. Washington Township (Gloucester County)
  99. Cape May
  100. Sayreville
  101. Mountainside
  102. Collingswood
  103. Jersey City City
  104. Bethlehem Township
  105. Wall
  106. Shrewsbury
  107. Howell
  108. Lyndhurst
  109. Hackensack S
  110. Point Pleasant Beach
  111. Wildwood Crest
  112. Cliffwood Beach
  113. Morris Plains

B+

  1. Franklin Lakes
  2. Avalon
  3. Fair Haven
  4. Bay Head
  5. Chesterfield Township
  6. Matawan
  7. Mercerville
  8. Boonton
  9. Turnersville
  10. Watchung
  11. Barnegat Light
  12. Eatontown
  13. Sparta Township
  14. Palisades Park
  15. High Bridge
  16. Bloomfield
  17. Riverdale
  18. West Deptford
  19. Delaware Township
  20. Kenilworth
  21. Mount Olive Township
  22. Washington Township (Bergen)
  23. Washington Township (Burlington)
  24. Franklin Township (Hunterdon)
  25. Hi-Nella
  26. Northvale
  27. Avon-by-the-Sea
  28. Norwood
  29. Allamuchy
  30. Ewing Township
  31. Park Ridge
  32. Northfield
  33. Alpine
  34. Ridgefield Park
  35. Manalapan
  36. Hampton
  37. Freehold
  38. Riverton
  39. Saddle River
  40. New Hanover
  41. Harrison Township
  42. Cinnaminson
  43. North Plainfield
  44. Glen Gardner
  45. Mantoloking
  46. Belmar
  47. Englishtown
  48. Raritan Township
  49. Flemington
  50. Robbinsville
  51. East Greenwich Township
  52. West Cape May
  53. Little Falls
  54. New Milford
  55. Far Hills
  56. Beach Haven West (section of Stafford Township)
  57. Logan Township
  58. Lindenwold
  59. Toms River
  60. Sea Isle City
  61. Mansfield Township
  62. Farmingdale
  63. Lake Como
  64. Middle Township
  65. Budd Lake
  66. Hamilton Township (Mercer County)
  67. East Amwell Township
  68. Winfield Township
  69. Galloway Township
  70. Medford Lakes
  71. South Bound Brook
  72. Pompton Lakes
  73. Point Pleasant Boro
  74. Egg Harbor Township
  75. Mantua Township
  76. Maywood
  77. Cliffside Park
  78. Woodlynne
  79. Essex Fells
  80. Hawthorne
  81. Magnolia
  82. Mine Hill Township
  83. Rochelle Park
  84. Nutley
  85. West Long Branch
  86. Cedar Grove
  87. Allenhurst
  88. North Arlington
  89. Merchantville
  90. Eastampton Township
  91. Upper Township
  92. Manahawkin (section of Stafford Township)
  93. Gibbsboro
  94. Rockaway
  95. Erma
  96. Totowa
  97. Wharton

B

  1. Hackettstown
  2. Saddle Brook
  3. Frenchtown
  4. Dunellen
  5. Little Ferry
  6. Clifton
  7. Lower Township
  8. Pennsauken
  9. Tabernacle Township
  10. Monroe Township (Middlesex County)
  11. South Amboy
  12. Audubon
  13. Linwood
  14. Beverly
  15. Caldwell
  16. Union Township
  17. Lincoln Park
  18. Roselle Park
  19. Bradley Beach
  20. Swedesboro
  21. Clark
  22. Sea Bright
  23. Hazlet
  24. Colts Neck
  25. Pomona
  26. Glassboro
  27. Elk Township
  28. Woodland Park
  29. Pequannock
  30. Tinton Falls
  31. Middlesex
  32. Colonia (section of Woodbridge)
  33. Lopatcong Township
  34. Mullica Hill
  35. Stafford Township
  36. Oaklyn
  37. Burlington
  38. Morganville (section of Marlboro)
  39. North Cape May
  40. Hammonton
  41. Emerson
  42. Jefferson Township
  43. Delanco Township
  44. Berlin
  45. Spotswood
  46. Mannington Township
  47. Barrington
  48. Margate
  49. Wood-Ridge
  50. Ridgefield
  51. Maple Shade
  52. Brownville
  53. Roosevelt
  54. Woodland Township
  55. Highlands
  56. Springfield Township (Burlington County)
  57. Keyport
  58. Clayton
  59. Port Reading
  60. South Harrison
  61. Gloucester Township
  62. Hamilton Township (Atlantic County)
  63. Shamong Township
  64. Bogota
  65. Bass River Township
  66. Somers Point
  67. Bound Brook
  68. Deptford Township
  69. North Haledon
  70. Liberty Township
  71. Greenwich Township
  72. Neptune Township
  73. Kingwood
  74. Byram Township
  75. Franklin Township (Warren County)
  76. Moonachie
  77. Pine Hill
  78. Oceanport
  79. Jackson Township
  80. Runnemede
  81. Long Branch
  82. Westville
  83. Loch Arbour
  84. Mount Arlington
  85. Richwood
  86. Sewaren
  87. Stanhope
  88. Whitesboro
  89. Carlstadt
  90. Carteret
  91. Long Valley (section of Washington Township, Morris County)
  92. Dover
  93. Monmouth Beach
  94. Neptune City
  95. Ocean Township
  96. Belle Mead
  97. Linden
  98. Stockton
  99. Wildwood
  100. Garwood
  101. Pemberton
  102. Yardville
  103. Hamburg
  104. Somerdale
  105. Edgewater Park
  106. Stratford

B-

  1. Gloucester City
  2. Belford (section of Middletown)
  3. Alpha
  4. Ocean Grove (section of Neptune Township)
  5. Oakhurst
  6. Pittsgrove Township
  7. Netcong Suburb
  8. Mansfield Township
  9. Millstone
  10. Port Monmouth (section of Middletown)
  11. Palmyra S
  12. Rahway
  13. Greenwich Township
  14. Winslow Township
  15. Jamesburg
  16. Audubon Park
  17. Vernon Township
  18. Millstone
  19. Lavallette
  20. East Millstone
  21. Phillipsburg
  22. Southampton
  23. Harrison
  24. North Hanover Township
  25. Alexandria Township
  26. Pitman
  27. Hampton Township
  28. Voorhees
  29. Maurice River Township
  30. Bayonne
  31. South River
  32. Haledon
  33. Helmetta
  34. South Toms River
  35. Hardyston Township
  36. Gibbstown
  37. Weymouth Township
  38. Little Egg Harbor Township
  39. Guttenberg
  40. Skillman
  41. Wanaque
  42. Beachwood
  43. Fairfield Township
  44. Island Heights
  45. Belleville Township
  46. Fredon Township
  47. Deal
  48. Elmwood Park
  49. Woodbine
  50. White Horse
  51. Lakehurst
  52. National Park
  53. Franklin
  54. Kearny
  55. Rosenhayn
  56. Atlantic City
  57. Branchville
  58. West Belmar
  59. Vineland
  60. Belvidere
  61. Brooklawn
  62. Weston
  63. Allenwood
  64. New Brunswick
  65. Frankford Township
  66. Newfield
  67. Milford
  68. North Wildwood
  69. Independence Township
  70. Beattystown
  71. Deerfield Township
  72. Elmer
  73. Sandyston Township
  74. Browns Mills
  75. Pilesgrove Township
  76. Brigantine
  77. New Egypt
  78. Blackwood (section of Gloucester Township)
  79. Manville
  80. Pemberton Heights
  81. Brick Township
  82. Rockleigh
  83. Green Township
  84. Pine Beach
  85. Lodi
  86. East Newark
  87. Delaware Park
  88. Camden
  89. Florence
  90. Brass Castle
  91. Rio Grande
  92. Pennsville
  93. Mountain Lake
  94. Carneys Point
  95. Newton
  96. Plumsted Township
  97. Bellmawr
  98. Bloomingdale
  99. Fairfield Township
  100. Garfield
  101. Cape May Court House
  102. Columbia
  103. Union Beach
  104. Alloway
  105. Riverside Township
  106. Washington

C+

  1. Wallington
  2. Pleasantville
  3. Paulsboro
  4. Cape May Point
  5. West Milford Township
  6. Asbury Park
  7. Mullica Township
  8. Union City
  9. Monroe Township
  10. Mays Landing
  11. Wrightstown
  12. Montague Township
  13. Waterford Township
  14. Berkeley Township
  15. Tuckerton
  16. Ventnor
  17. Pohatcong
  18. Knowlton
  19. Manchester Township
  20. Millville
  21. Holland Township
  22. Egg Harbor City
  23. Williamstown
  24. Roselle
  25. Highland Lakes
  26. Elizabeth
  27. Trenton
  28. Upper Deerfield Township
  29. Plainfield
  30. Salem
  31. Keansburg
  32. Elsinboro Township
  33. White Township
  34. Franklin Township
  35. North Bergen
  36. Ogdensburg
  37. Lafayette
  38. Lacey
  39. Seaside Park
  40. Mount Ephraim
  41. Chesilhurst
  42. Frelinghuysen Township
  43. Oldmans Township
  44. Buena
  45. East Orange
  46. Hopatcong
  47. Newark
  48. Pittsgrove Township
  49. Hopewell
  50. Forked River (section of Lacey Township)

C

  1. Absecon
  2. Andover
  3. Hardwick Township
  4. West Wildwood
  5. Pedricktown
  6. Wantage Township
  7. Brainards
  8. Corbin City
  9. Stillwater Township
  10. Woodbury Heights
  11. Estell Manor
  12. Hillside Township
  13. Lakewood
  14. Strathmere
  15. Longport
  16. Dennis Township
  17. Silver Lake
  18. Folsom
  19. Irvington Township
  20. Villas Town
  21. Commercial Township
  22. Lawrence Township
  23. Penns Grove
  24. Shiloh
  25. Port Norris
  26. Bloomsbury
  27. Leonardo (section of Middletown)
  28. Paterson
  29. Stow Creek
  30. Port Republic
  31. Ocean Gate
  32. Bridgeton
  33. Perth Amboy
  34. Barnegat

C-

  1. Hutchinson
  2. Sussex
  3. Prospect Park
  4. Passaic
  5. Willingboro
  6. Seaside Heights
  7. Pine Ridge at Crestwood
  8. Waretown
  9. Downe Township
  10. Oxford
  11. Quinton
  12. Elwood
  13. Greenwich Township
  14. Stewartsville
  15. Hope
  16. Harmony

D+

  1. Juliustown (section of Springfield in Burlington County)
  2. Orange
  3. Vernon Valley
  4. Cedarville

D-

  1. Brookfield (section of White Township)
  2. Blairstown
  3. Asbury (section of Franklin Township in Warren County)

You can find the list and the descriptions of each town by clicking here.

Patch file photo

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