Three Bergen County Towns Top New Rankings For 'Best Places To Live'

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — There's lots to consider when seeking a place to live — safety, schools, parks, and transportation.

The annual Best Places To Live list from Niche, a data-driven platform that helps people to determine where to settle down, was just released for 2026, and Bergen County towns come out on top.

In fact, Harrington Park was the second best place to live in the state, Niche said, right behind the Princeton Junction area.

The national 2026 Best Places to Live list includes 230 cities and 18,000 towns, suburbs, and neighborhoods.

These Bergen County towns were among the top 10 in New Jersey:

Top Towns

Harrington Park, 2: This town was second in the state and number 67 in the country for places to live. It also topped the list of best places to retire and best suburb in New Jersey. Niche said it stands out for its top-rated public schools, short commutes to local schools, and a strong sense of community.

Ridgewood, 8: The schools and train commute were cited as major factors.

Haworth, 9: The "rural feel" and schools were cited in the description of the small town.

Seven More Made Top 25

Several other Bergen County towns made it into the top 25 in the state, including Closter at 12, Glen Rock at 13, River Edge at 14, Ho-Ho-Kus at 20, Fort Lee at 21, Allendale at 22, and Oradell at 25.

The rankings are based on a wide range of data sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, combined with millions of resident reviews.

Naperville, Illinois, is the best city in America for the third consecutive year, according to Niche’s rankings.

Niche said year’s top-ranked places are smaller, walkable communities within major metro areas, giving residents access to jobs, amenities, and transit while maintaining connected neighborhoods.

Read more about the rankings and see which other towns made the grade here: Here Are Best Places To Live In NJ, New Ranking Says

Patch Editor Ainsley Martinez contributed to this report.