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These Are The 10 Most Successful Cities In New Jersey

By Chris Kolmar
Jun. 27, 2016
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Jan. 31, 2026

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Top 10 Most Successful Cities in New Jersey for 2026

Success can be defined in various ways. Is it the wealth accumulated in your bank account, the satisfaction from delivering an impactful presentation, or perhaps the joy from a well-timed joke? Success is often subjective and multifaceted, encompassing both tangible and intangible elements.

At Zippia, we prefer to quantify success through measurable metrics. Utilizing available data, we’ve identified the top 10 most successful cities in New Jersey based on economic indicators. Here’s the list:

  1. Fair Haven
  2. Chatham
  3. North Caldwell
  4. Englewood Cliffs
  5. Woodcliff Lake
  6. River Edge
  7. Ramsey
  8. Upper Saddle River
  9. Glen Ridge
  10. Glen Rock

If you think our list is debatable, stay tuned; we have a solid methodology behind these rankings.

How We Determined the Most Successful Cities in New Jersey

Success is often associated with financial prosperity. However, we believe that true success extends beyond mere wealth. To assess the success of these cities, we analyzed data from the most recent American Community Survey and other economic indicators.

1. Fair Haven

Source: Wikipedia

Population: 6,093
Median Income: $140,000
Poverty Level: 0.3%
Unemployment Rate: 6.0%

2. Chatham

Population: 9,000
Median Income: $144,179
Poverty Level: 2.5%
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%

3. North Caldwell

Population: 6,407
Median Income: $194,536
Poverty Level: 2.8%
Unemployment Rate: 5.0%

4. Englewood Cliffs

Population: 5,346
Median Income: $138,780
Poverty Level: 2.0%
Unemployment Rate: 5.5%

5. Woodcliff Lake

Population: 5,785
Median Income: $137,724
Poverty Level: 1.6%
Unemployment Rate: 5.8%

6. River Edge

Population: 11,483
Median Income: $104,250
Poverty Level: 1.0%
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%

7. Ramsey

Population: 14,650
Median Income: $122,165
Poverty Level: 2.3%
Unemployment Rate: 5.4%

8. Upper Saddle River

Population: 8,304
Median Income: $188,750
Poverty Level: 1.3%
Unemployment Rate: 6.9%

9. Glen Ridge

Population: 7,606
Median Income: $169,006
Poverty Level: 4.0%
Unemployment Rate: 5.3%

10. Glen Rock

Population: 11,784
Median Income: $154,615
Poverty Level: 2.3%
Unemployment Rate: 6.7%

Measuring Success

If you’re questioning whether these metrics can encapsulate a city’s success or the individuals within it, you’re not alone. However, we stand by our methodology for assessing success in these communities. Congratulations to Fair Haven and all our top cities for 2026, and for those that didn’t make the list, we wish you better luck next time!

Detailed List of the Most Successful Cities in New Jersey

Rank City Median Income Poverty Rate Unemployment Rate
1 Fair Haven $140,000 0.3% 6.0%
2 Chatham $144,179 2.5% 4.0%
3 North Caldwell $194,536 2.8% 5.0%
4 Englewood Cliffs $138,780 2.0% 5.5%
5 Woodcliff Lake $137,724 1.6% 5.8%
6 River Edge $104,250 1.0% 4.5%
7 Ramsey $122,165 2.3% 5.4%
8 Upper Saddle River $188,750 1.3% 6.9%
9 Glen Ridge $169,006 4.0% 5.3%
10 Glen Rock $154,615 2.3% 6.7%
11 Franklin Lakes $153,657 2.7% 6.5%
12 Rumson $151,667 4.2% 5.3%
13 Mendham $129,919 2.2% 6.6%
14 Oradell $144,222 0.9% 7.4%
15 Little Silver $136,344 5.1% 3.3%
16 Watchung $104,821 3.4% 2.0%
17 Haddonfield $125,000 4.3% 5.4%
18 Westfield $138,165 2.1% 7.2%
19 Roseland $108,421 2.5% 6.0%
20 Cresskill $100,342 3.1% 5.1%
21 Oakland $117,596 3.3% 6.2%
22 Bernardsville $103,903 3.5% 5.0%
23 Ridgewood $141,315 4.7% 6.2%
24 Norwood $97,962 2.7% 5.8%
25 New Providence $139,071 5.6% 5.5%
26 Ringwood $106,880 2.4% 6.8%
27 Metuchen $109,351 3.5% 6.2%
28 Fanwood $123,003 0.8% 8.2%
29 Dumont $91,811 2.3% 6.4%
30 Paramus $96,454 2.6% 6.4%
31 Florham Park $105,368 4.2% 5.7%
32 Summit $121,509 5.2% 6.2%
33 Tenafly $140,923 4.7% 6.9%
34 Midland Park $85,966 4.6% 2.8%
35 Mountainside $146,389 3.9% 7.6%
36 Manasquan $91,389 5.7% 4.6%
37 Linwood $88,542 2.3% 7.3%
38 Rockaway $74,080 2.4% 6.2%
39 Closter $119,725 1.7% 9.7%
40 Dunellen $76,214 4.2% 5.1%
41 Allendale $124,821 2.5% 9.3%
42 Madison $109,737 3.8% 7.4%
43 Waldwick $106,750 4.3% 7.0%
44 Old Tappan $116,151 3.4% 8.1%
45 Hillsdale $113,077 6.8% 6.0%
46 Kinnelon $125,000 2.3% 10.1%
47 Spotswood $76,110 2.7% 6.6%
48 Montvale $103,361 5.6% 6.5%
49 Westwood $85,588 5.5% 5.9%
50 Middlesex $81,424 1.8% 7.8%
51 Morris Plains $110,167 4.6% 7.8%
52 Hoboken $106,875 9.8% 4.1%
53 Princeton $116,875 6.1% 7.2%
54 Wood-Ridge $97,006 5.6% 6.7%
55 Edgewater $99,609 6.2% 6.4%
56 Lincoln Park $81,661 4.2% 6.8%
57 Fair Lawn $100,755 4.1% 8.1%
58 Park Ridge $106,327 2.9% 9.9%
59 Raritan $73,565 5.5% 6.3%
60 Haddon Heights $86,409 3.5% 8.5%
61 South Plainfield $90,880 5.4% 7.8%
62 Butler $90,424 6.4% 7.1%
63 Mount Arlington $83,549 1.0% 11.0%
64 Kenilworth $100,680 4.4% 9.3%
65 Somerville $72,527 5.2% 6.9%
66 Rutherford $82,385 6.0% 7.3%
67 North Haledon $93,641 3.4% 10.6%
68 Pompton Lakes $87,284 5.0% 8.8%
69 West Long Branch $82,067 6.3% 7.1%
70 Maywood $81,500 6.5% 7.1%
71 Beachwood $76,279 5.7% 7.2%
72 Hawthorne $81,885 4.4% 8.7%
73 New Milford $75,071 6.0% 7.1%
74 Sayreville $81,136 4.9% 8.5%
75 Morristown $75,696 10.5% 5.1%
76 Woodland Park $79,732 5.0% 8.1%
77 Ridgefield Park $64,741 6.5% 6.1%
78 Boonton $88,107 5.1% 9.3%
79 Matawan $82,940 6.2% 7.7%
80 Bergenfield $80,365 7.3% 7.3%
81 Elmwood Park $67,500 7.1% 6.6%
82 Englewood $73,249 8.6% 6.7%
83 East Rutherford $70,934 11.3% 5.8%
84 South Amboy $73,710 5.3% 8.8%
85 Collingswood $59,705 6.6% 6.6%
86 Caldwell $73,299 3.4% 10.9%
87 Hasbrouck Heights $87,705 7.6% 8.8%
88 Leonia $78,882 10.3% 6.9%
89 Pitman $70,058 5.2% 8.8%
90 Point Pleasant $84,163 6.8% 8.8%
91 Little Ferry $63,810 7.7% 6.7%
92 Audubon $77,825 6.2% 8.8%
93 North Arlington $71,750 8.9% 7.2%
94 Oceanport $92,413 5.6% 12.4%
95 Secaucus $84,626 9.3% 8.1%
96 Emerson $108,295 9.9% 9.9%
97 Tinton Falls $73,278 5.6% 9.5%
98 Wanaque $85,373 4.6% 14.5%
99 Clifton $68,096 7.9% 7.6%
100 Ocean City $59,522 8.6% 6.6%
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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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