Kristen is a writer, editor, and social media maven who loves her state. Born and raised in New Jersey, sharing all it has to offer is her passion. After attending Montclair State University, she continued her education online, obtaining certifications in social media management.
Residents of New Jersey have plenty to be happy about. We have beautiful beaches, stunning state parks, fantastic fall foliage, and so much more! There are also certain things that New Jerseyans are less happy about, like traffic and taxes. Still, we’re among the happier half of the nation, though just barely. According to a 2013 well-being survey by Gallup-Healthways, New Jersey is the 23rd happiest state in the country. Some areas of our state seem to know the secret to happiness, however. The National Bureau of Economic Research determined that Middlesex, Somerset and Hunterdon counties were among the top 10 happiest metropolitan areas in the USA.
All of this information got me wondering… Specifically, which cities and towns are the happiest in New Jersey? Though it can be difficult to measure happiness, I’ve done my best, using data from Zippia and CreditDonkey, who both recently did studies on the subject. Factors used to determine “happiness” in an area include employment and divorce rates, percentage of residents with bachelor’s degrees, commute time, cost of living, home ownership, crime rates, income, restaurants per capita and number of sunny days. That’s a lot of information to consider, hopefully providing an accurate picture. Still, some of the results surprised me. Here are the happiest places in New Jersey, in no particular order.
This wealthier community in Hamilton Township is home to the gorgeous Grounds for Sculpture. Maybe its beauty helps make residents happier! The town is also well educated with a low crime rate. It neighbors Trenton, which ranked much lower in overall happiness, but does provide numerous attractions for history buffs.
Woodbury, located in Gloucester County, was the first city in the nation to mandate recycling. The average commute time is low, coming in at under 25 minutes.
Succasunna is a lovely community in Roxbury Township with about 10,000 residents. The cost of living is a bit higher than average, but so is the median income. Succasunna is the site of the world's first electronic switching public telephone exchange.
Located in Cumberland County, Vineland is where Welch's Grape Juice got its start. Residents enjoy a higher median income combined with a lower cost of housing. The divorce rate is also low, at under 10%.
Wealthy and well-educated, this Bergen County town is one of the safest in the state. Perhaps the Little Firehouse Theater helps to entertain residents and keeps them happier.
With plenty of entertainment options, great parks, numerous restaurants and gorgeous New York City views, it's no wonder why residents are happy. John Jacob Astor, William Vanderbilt and Henry Ward Beecher have all called Hoboken home.
This safer town, northwest of Hoboken, has a low divorce rate at around 8%. The median household income is higher and they've got some great pizza joints, an added bonus.
Millville neighbors the fellow happy city of Vineland and offers the lowest average commute time in New Jersey. It is a haven for creative types and is home to the Glasstown Arts District and Wheaton Arts.
Little Silver has a lot of silver! One of the wealthier towns in New Jersey, the median income is over $150,000. That would make me pretty happy! It is also very safe, with a low violent crime rate, and nearly 90% of residents over age 25 have bachelor's degrees.
Natural beauty abounds in the Morris County community. You'll find the Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, home to the mysterious Tripod Rock, and numerous parks and lakes.
This Bergen County borough is home to BMW's North American Headquarters. It ranks in the top 10% of New Jersey towns for number of sunny days. A fun fact: Richard Nixon once had an office here.
This South Jersey city has a low average commute time and more affordable housing. Betsy Ross was married in the city and Bill Haley & His Comets got their start here.
This safe neighborhood has a spectacular dining scene. The divorce rate is under 7%, median income approaches $150,000, and the crime rate is very low - especially for a city of 31,000. Poet Langston Hughes and writer Zora Neale Hurston both lived here in the 1930s.
This Union County town offers numerous entertainment options including the Summit Playhouse, Visual Arts Center of New Jersey and Reeves-Reed Arboretum. The commute time is higher here, but so is the median income. 20% of residents work in either finance or real estate. Actress Meryl Streep was born here.
This Pine Barrens town is often referred to as "the blueberry capital of the world." It could also be the festival capital of New Jersey, hosting nearly a dozen unique festivals each year. The local Italian festival dates back to 1875 and is considered the oldest such continually run festival in the United States. Every third Thursday of the month, the town celebrates with street performers, store discounts, and more.
With a median income of nearly $200,000, Upper Saddle River is the most affluent town in New Jersey. Does this mean money really does buy happiness? It certainly can help, providing great schools, safety, and seclusion, with easy access to more metropolitan areas.
Did any of the towns on this list surprise you? What other towns do you think should have made the list? It was based on recent data, not personal opinion, and I’m a little surprised that spectacular shore towns like Manasquan, Spring Lake and Ocean City didn’t quite make the cut. Are you?
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