This Essex County City Is Among 'Best Places To Live' In NJ, New List Says

EAST ORANGE, NJ — East Orange is one of the “best places to live” in New Jersey, according to a new list from U.S. News & World Report.

The publication recently released its annual list, which selected and ranked 250 major U.S. cities. To make the list, a place had to have “good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strong job market and a high quality of life,” researchers said.

See the full list here, and learn about its methodology here.

East Orange ranked as the ninth-best place to live in New Jersey. U.S. News & World Report highlighted it as “a city on the rise with a strong sense of community and accessibility” that offers a unique blend of urban and suburban living.

Read what U.S. News & World Report had to say about “what it’s like to live in East Orange” here.

“For the 2025-2026 Best Places to Live rankings, we selected 859 cities,” researchers explained. “The top 250 are featured in our national Top 250 Best Places to Live rankings.”

The announcement got a round of applause from city officials in East Orange, including Mayor Ted Green.

“East Orange isn’t just a city on the rise; it’s a hidden gem that has always held deep value, pride and potential,” Green said.

“For generations, our residents have known the strength of our community, the beauty of our neighborhoods, and the power of our collective spirit,” the mayor added.

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