Middlesex County Town Ranked 19th Best Town Nationally By Money Magazine

EDISON, NJ-- Edison has been ranked the 19th best place to live nationally and the 4th best statewide in Money Magazine's annual ranking. Edison is the only Middlesex County town to make the list. Having been nationally ranked three times before, the 19th spot is its highest so far.

“MONEY recognizes what most people here already know: Edison is a wonderful place to live, to raise a family and work,” Mayor Thomas Lankey said in a statement. “We have tremendous pride in our community. In Town Hall, we consistently strive to make Edison even better.”

One of the distinguishing features of Edison is its ethnic diversity: 42.5% of all residents are Asian-American, predominately Indian-American. Oak Tree Road, a major shopping and dining area for the Indian community, runs into Edison.

“One of Edison's most distinguished features is its' ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, a diversity we embrace and enjoy,” Mayor Lankey said. “The professional offices, specialty stores, restaurants and other businesses owned and operated by this diverse group of people have strengthened our local economy.”

Edison is also known for its public school system: over 80% of all students attend a public school, including Edison and J.P. Stevens High Schools.

Located within an hour of New York City, Philadelphia, and the Jersey Shore, Money recognized Edison's central location as a major plus factor. They also praised its location to Rutgers University, where many Edison students attend after high school.

Some drawbacks to Edison is the large size creating a community division between North and South Edison, and its lack of a true downtown section. Residents looking for a more traditional downtown usually go into Westfield, which did not make the list this year.

Image via Edison