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The basics:

• No NJ city made U.S. News’ national top 250 Best Places to Live
• Within state lists, 14 NJ cities rank
• Outcomes determined by affordability, desirability, jobs, quality of life

New Jersey towns again missed the cut for the top 250 Best Places to Live in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. However, the publication did rank what it determined to be the Garden State’s top cities. 

To land in the top 250 across the U.S., cities must score high marks for affordability, desirability, job market and quality of life. 

“The 2026-2027 Best Places to Live rankings offer consumers a look at places throughout the U.S. that might meet their needs for livability best,” Erika Giovanetti, consumer lending analyst at U.S. News & World Report, said in a May 19 statement.  

According to U.S. News, the nation’s No. 1 and No. 2 best places to live are both located in Indiana: Carmel and Fishers, respectively. 

These neighboring towns “offer residents a good quality of life without breaking the bank,” Giovanetti noted. 

The state with the most cities in the top 10, thanks to “high affordability scores,” is Texas, with four. See the complete top 250 here.

How to top the list

To determine the findings, U.S. News researchers conducted a public survey of thousands of U.S. citizens. The rankings also weighed data from U.S. News’ internal resources, Applied Geographic Solutions and U.S. government agencies. 

“As prices of everyday goods continue to rise, consumers are considering affordability as a top priority when choosing a place to live,” Giovanetti noted. “While U.S. News’ consumer survey indicated that quality of life and affordability were close in importance, cost-of-living concerns resulted in many Americans putting what they can afford above their aspirations.”

A recent Rutgers-Eagleton poll found 84% of New Jerseyans are dissatisfied with how the state is handling the cost of living. Gov. Mikie Sherrill has said her administration is “laser-focused” on affordability, signing several executive orders with that goal in mind.

Friendly competition

In its report highlighting New Jersey’s attributes, U.S. News noted the “Garden State has a lively arts scene, rich musical heritage and popular entertainment options, including the Atlantic City boardwalk and casinos.”

Best Places to Live in New Jersey for 2026-2027 (according to U.S. News)

• No. 1: Clifton
• No. 2: Jersey City 
• No. 3: Bayonne 
• No. 4: Vineland 
• No. 5: Union City 
• No. 6: Passaic 
• No. 7: Elizabeth 
• No. 8: East Orange 
• No. 9: Paterson 
• No. 10: New Brunswick 
• No. 11: Newark 
• No. 12: Camden 
• No. 13: Trenton 
• No. 14: Atlantic City 

Located in Passaic County and boasting a tagline of “The City That Cares,” Clifton held its No. 1 ranking from 2025. U.S. News lists the city’s median household income at $105,422, with an unemployment rate of 5.74%.

According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, New Jersey has 545 “places,” including 52 cities, 15 towns and three villages. 

The Garden State landed at No. 19 on U.S. News’ most recent Best States Rankings, which determines “how well states are performing for their citizens” in regard to healthcare, education, economy, infrastructure and more.