The 10 Happiest Places To Live In New Jersey

Ever wondered where in the country people are happiest? Better yet, what cities in your state have the secret sauce for happiness?

Just like where you work and what you do, where you live can have major implications for your quality of life. We set out to find the cities in New Jersey where life is sweetest, the wages are high, and people aren’t wasting their lives away in cars,

The results? Happiness comes in small packages.

The result is this list of the best cities for :

These are the happiest places in New Jersey. Keep reading to see what has everyone grinning so much.

How did we determined the happiest places to live in New Jersey?

We turned happiness into a science and scoured the state to find the cities with all the ingredients for happiness:

Being well educated (Population with at least a bachelor’s degree)
Percent of households earning above $75,000
Median home prices
A short commute to work (Traffic = unhappiness)
Having a family (Getting, and staying married, has a ton of happiness benefits, on average)

We examined over 249 cities, to find the cities that have all of the above in spades.

While some may be confused to see marriage rates included in our metrics, studies show that married people are typically happier than unmarried people. However, it is worth noting that marriage doesn’t cause happiness. In fact, people leaving a bad marriage experience spikes of happiness. However, a happy marriage and positive social interactions are important for mood and mental health.

Similarly, if you’re scratching your head to see $75,000 as the cut-off for happiness, blame Purdue University. Their study found that amount meets basic needs and frees people from the pitfalls of deep financial insecurity that cause unhappiness.

All of our data comes from the most recent American Community Survey.

Keep reading for more on why each of these 10 places is brimming with happiness—or hop to the bottom to see where your city landed on the list.

1. North Caldwell

North Caldwell, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User EdZa | CC BY-SA 2.0

Population: 6,621
Earners Over $75k: 81.2%
Average Commute: 33
Marriage Rate: 30.0%

North Caldwell is the happiest city in all of New Jersey. What makes North Caldwell residents so happy? They aren’t wasting their lives on long commutes for one. The average North Caldwell resident only drives 33.1 minuted to work. Toss in affordable housing and the fact that most North Caldwell residents are coming home to a loving partner and it’s easy to see the city has a lot going for it.

2. Haddonfield

Haddonfield, NJ

Source: Public domain

Population: 11,369
Earners Over $75k: 76.1%
Average Commute: 28
Marriage Rate: 25.0%

In 2nd place we have Haddonfield. Residents of Haddonfield are highly educated, with an impressive 77.0% having at least a bachelor’s degree. And in this modern day, education means options, and folks in Haddonfield have plenty of them.

3. Fair Haven

Fair Haven, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Apc106 | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 5,943
Earners Over $75k: 85.1%
Average Commute: 44
Marriage Rate: 31.0%

Fair Haven is the third happiest city in New Jersey. Why so happy? 31.0% of Fair Haven residents come home to a partner to share their life burdens. Bonus? Short commutes give them more time to spend with all their loved ones or on hobbies they enjoy.

4. Bernardsville

Bernardsville, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 7,698
Earners Over $75k: 78.0%
Average Commute: 33
Marriage Rate: 26.0%

Folks in Bernardsville have a lot to smile about. An impressive 78.0% of Bernardsville households earn $75,000 or more. That means families in Bernardsville can afford peace of mind.

5. Allendale

Allendale, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User NHRHS2010 | GFDL

Population: 6,762
Earners Over $75k: 75.4%
Average Commute: 35
Marriage Rate: 29.0%

Allendale is the 5th happiest city in the whole state. Allendale residents’ moods are kept high by reasonable home prices (the median home price in this New Jersey city is only $710,600), happy marriages, and short commutes.

6. Rumson

Rumson, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User KLOTZ | CC BY-SA 4.0

Population: 6,805
Earners Over $75k: 78.3%
Average Commute: 45
Marriage Rate: 31.0%

Looking to relocate? Data says you should give Rumson a second look because it has all the ingredients for happiness. A staggering 78.3% of households earn over 75,000. Toss in high marriage rates and reasonable commutes, and it’s easy to see those who call Rumson home have a lot to be happy about.

7. Oakland

Oakland, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User JERRYE ROY KLOTZ M.D. | CC BY-SA 4.0

Population: 13,009
Earners Over $75k: 74.2%
Average Commute: 29
Marriage Rate: 31.0%

Oakland is the 7th happiest city. Oakland residents pull in respectable salaries and manage to do it, on average, within 29.8 minutes of their home. They can use all that extra time saved from a long commute to indulge in hobbies they’re passionate about.

8. Chatham

Chatham, NJ

Source: Public domain

Population: 8,881
Earners Over $75k: 81.1%
Average Commute: 40
Marriage Rate: 25.0%

Chatham residents are highly educated with good incomes, decent marriage rates, and reasonable commutes. What’s not to be happy about?

9. Upper Saddle River

Upper Saddle River, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Alexisrael | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 8,242
Earners Over $75k: 84.0%
Average Commute: 32
Marriage Rate: 18.0%

The 9th happiest city in all of New Jersey is Upper Saddle River. The average commute in Upper Saddle River is only 32.3 minutes. That means they are only 32.3 minutes away from the loving spouse 18.0% of them have.

10. Glen Ridge

Glen Ridge, NJ

Source: Public domain

Population: 7,573
Earners Over $75k: 84.2%
Average Commute: 41
Marriage Rate: 24.0%

In 10th place is Glen Ridge, New Jersey. What makes Glen Ridge so great? Affordable housing, reasonable commutes, and healthy incomes. If happiness is contagious, moving here might be worth a try.

And that’s our list of the happiest cities in New Jersey

There you have it, happiness is a place.

While we can’t guarantee everyone living and working in the top 10 cities is happy, they have a better chance the most.

If you are looking to improve your own happiness, check out how you can help improve your personal factors: housing costs, job satisfaction, income, and education.

If your city didn’t make the top 10, check out the list below to see whether it missed the cut by a hair or if folks there are struggling to escape despair.

Detailed List Of The Happiest Cities In

Rank	City	High Earners	Average Commute	Marriage Rate
1	North Caldwell	81.2%	33	30.0%
2	Haddonfield	76.1%	28	25.0%
3	Fair Haven	85.1%	44	31.0%
4	Bernardsville	78.0%	33	26.0%
5	Allendale	75.4%	35	29.0%
6	Rumson	78.3%	45	31.0%
7	Oakland	74.2%	29	31.0%
8	Chatham	81.1%	40	25.0%
9	Upper Saddle River	84.0%	32	18.0%
10	Glen Ridge	84.2%	41	24.0%
11	New Providence	76.1%	36	27.0%
12	Kinnelon	77.1%	34	32.0%
13	Waldwick	72.4%	28	31.0%
14	Martinsville	79.7%	32	28.0%
15	Little Silver	78.5%	39	32.0%
16	Madison	70.9%	29	19.0%
17	Franklin Lakes	80.8%	32	25.0%
18	Westfield	76.6%	40	24.0%
19	Short Hills	90.6%	44	18.0%
20	Glen Rock	81.1%	39	21.0%
21	White Meadow Lake	75.6%	32	36.0%
22	Morris Plains	78.9%	30	28.0%
23	Woodcliff Lake	78.8%	32	21.0%
24	Lincroft	80.1%	37	24.0%
25	Moorestown-Lenola	70.9%	26	21.0%
26	Ramsey	74.7%	32	26.0%
27	Emerson	71.9%	30	25.0%
28	Florham Park	69.3%	27	22.0%
29	Midland Park	70.6%	28	38.0%
30	Upper Montclair	80.7%	41	16.0%
31	Summit	74.2%	36	17.0%
32	Ridgewood	80.1%	39	15.0%
33	Ramtown	79.3%	34	36.0%
34	West Long Branch	63.3%	24	30.0%
35	Roseland	69.4%	29	35.0%
36	Manasquan	66.9%	28	37.0%
37	Fanwood	70.0%	39	24.0%
38	Oradell	77.3%	37	22.0%
39	Old Tappan	73.8%	35	23.0%
40	Mountainside	69.0%	32	31.0%
41	Ringwood	78.3%	35	32.0%
42	Bradley Gardens	74.4%	34	18.0%
43	Watchung	71.1%	38	21.0%
44	Hillsdale	70.8%	33	23.0%
45	Green Knoll	66.7%	27	19.0%
46	Tenafly	77.8%	43	8.0%
47	Park Ridge	69.2%	32	23.0%
48	Succasunna	77.1%	35	36.0%
49	North Haledon	65.9%	24	45.0%
50	Oceanport	61.7%	27	43.0%
51	Cresskill	72.0%	39	15.0%
52	Princeton	70.7%	26	6.0%
53	Montvale	71.9%	39	20.0%
54	Carlstadt	63.0%	27	23.0%
55	Closter	72.5%	35	13.0%
56	Linwood	63.0%	22	28.0%
57	Brookdale	69.4%	34	24.0%
58	Mil	60.8%	30	35.0%
59	Metuchen	72.5%	37	24.0%
60	Hamilton Square	71.7%	26	38.0%
61	Englewood Cliffs	78.0%	37	9.0%
62	Morganville	77.6%	46	14.0%
63	Paramus	68.3%	32	19.0%
64	Hasbrouck Heights	60.7%	28	21.0%
65	Strathmore	71.8%	38	21.0%
66	Hawthorne	60.5%	26	28.0%
67	Boonton	55.4%	27	24.0%
68	Dayton	75.8%	37	8.0%
69	Robertsville	76.3%	42	13.0%
70	Colonia	66.9%	30	25.0%
71	Fair Lawn	69.8%	32	18.0%
72	River Edge	69.2%	37	17.0%
73	Northfield	51.6%	21	27.0%
74	Haddon Heights	59.7%	27	29.0%
75	South Plainfield	65.1%	30	26.0%
76	Yorketown	71.9%	44	18.0%
77	Point Pleasant	62.2%	30	42.0%
78	Totowa	67.9%	27	26.0%
79	Ramblewood	68.2%	27	18.0%
80	Springdale	72.7%	31	11.0%
81	Kendall Park	66.8%	39	17.0%
82	Budd Lake	56.3%	32	23.0%
83	Greentree	71.9%	32	15.0%
84	West Freehold	68.1%	34	21.0%
85	Ocean Acres	55.4%	28	38.0%
86	Rockaway	56.9%	27	25.0%
87	Kenilworth	63.8%	29	31.0%
88	Rutherford	61.1%	33	22.0%
89	Heathcote	72.3%	36	9.0%
90	Woodland Park	51.0%	24	20.0%
91	Lincoln Park	59.3%	28	29.0%
92	Norwood	67.0%	35	18.0%
93	Westwood	61.9%	35	20.0%
94	Princeton Meadows	63.5%	37	6.0%
95	Lake Mohawk	71.7%	39	27.0%
96	Wood-Ridge	62.1%	29	26.0%
97	Ashland	64.9%	28	20.0%
98	Caldwell	54.3%	28	21.0%
99	Pine Lake Park	55.1%	28	38.0%
100	Elmwood Park	52.1%	25	17.0%

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Kathy Morris

Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.

Recent Job Searches

Explore All Jobs