#1Mountainside
Union County · 7,346 peopleOutdoors grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall A+ · #5 of 466 in NJ
Mountainside, #1 on this list · Photo: Bryan Housel · CC BY-SA 3.0New Jersey rankings · Outdoors
Best towns for the outdoors in New Jersey
Mountainside ranks first on outdoors among New Jersey’s 468 towns of 2,500+; 311 of the 468 grade A− or better on outdoors nationally.
The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. How grades work
#1A+
#2High Bridge
Hunterdon County · 3,603 peopleOutdoors grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #137 of 466 in NJ
#3Mine Hill Township
Morris County · 4,160 peopleOutdoors grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #172 of 466 in NJ
All 468 towns
Outdoors grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
468 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
5Mount Olive TownshipMorris County · 29,503 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A · #87 of 466
9West Windsor TownshipMercer County · 32,839 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A · #77 of 466
14Jefferson TownshipMorris County · 20,703 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A · #121 of 466
19Rockaway TownshipMorris County · 27,728 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #162 of 466
22Cedar Grove TownshipEssex County · 13,916 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A · #60 of 466
24West Milford TownshipPassaic County · 25,216 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #164 of 466
25West Caldwell TownshipEssex County · 11,205 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A · #69 of 466
30Parsippany-Troy Hills TownshipMorris County · 56,633 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A · #114 of 466
34Millburn TownshipEssex County · 22,874 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #113 of 466
35Denville TownshipMorris County · 17,424 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #12 of 466
36Holmdel TownshipMonmouth County · 17,535 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #66 of 466
37Chester TownshipMorris County · 7,795 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #62 of 466
38Berkeley TownshipOcean County · 45,550 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #354 of 466
40Little Egg Harbor TownshipOcean County · 21,801 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #339 of 466
41Roxbury TownshipMorris County · 23,427 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #157 of 466
42Randolph TownshipMorris County · 26,878 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #101 of 466
44Manchester TownshipOcean County · 46,556 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #305 of 466
45Franklin TownshipSomerset County · 69,105 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #246 of 466
46Middletown TownshipMonmouth County · 67,135 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #93 of 466
47Vernon TownshipSussex County · 22,965 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #204 of 466
48Wildwood CrestCape May County · 3,000 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #347 of 466
49Berkeley Heights TownshipUnion County · 15,140 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #38 of 466
50Scotch Plains TownshipUnion County · 25,437 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #72 of 466
51Montgomery TownshipSomerset County · 24,039 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #117 of 466
52Wall TownshipMonmouth County · 26,753 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #198 of 466
53Morris TownshipMorris County · 23,730 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #200 of 466
54Hillsborough TownshipSomerset County · 45,061 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #97 of 466
56Lower TownshipCape May County · 21,533 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #376 of 466
58Harding TownshipMorris County · 3,949 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #10 of 466
59Hopewell TownshipMercer County · 18,763 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #100 of 466
60Montville TownshipMorris County · 24,469 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #112 of 466
61Mullica TownshipAtlantic County · 5,853 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #280 of 466
62East Brunswick TownshipMiddlesex County · 50,678 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #163 of 466
63Delanco TownshipBurlington County · 5,010 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #361 of 466
64Lebanon TownshipHunterdon County · 6,229 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #141 of 466
65Fairfield TownshipEssex County · 8,346 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #216 of 466
66Hampton TownshipSussex County · 4,989 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #309 of 466
69Bethlehem TownshipHunterdon County · 3,774 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #207 of 466
70Maplewood TownshipEssex County · 26,320 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #156 of 466
71Bridgewater TownshipSomerset County · 46,455 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #144 of 466
72West Amwell TownshipHunterdon County · 3,037 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #213 of 466
75East Windsor TownshipMercer County · 30,562 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #254 of 466
76Stillwater TownshipSussex County · 4,072 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #292 of 466
77Upper Freehold TownshipMonmouth County · 7,251 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #159 of 466
78Plainsboro TownshipMiddlesex County · 24,349 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #103 of 466
79West Orange TownshipEssex County · 49,557 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #256 of 466
81Pequannock TownshipMorris County · 15,750 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #92 of 466
83Clinton TownshipHunterdon County · 13,412 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #81 of 466
84Green TownshipSussex County · 3,715 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #147 of 466
85Hainesport TownshipBurlington County · 6,197 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #182 of 466
86Montague TownshipSussex County · 3,896 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #352 of 466
87Lawrence TownshipMercer County · 34,165 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #228 of 466
88Millstone TownshipMonmouth County · 10,412 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #197 of 466
89Clark TownshipUnion County · 16,418 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #189 of 466
90Andover TownshipSussex County · 5,721 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #107 of 466
91South Toms RiverOcean County · 3,895 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #326 of 466
92Bernards TownshipSomerset County · 28,594 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #17 of 466
94Teaneck TownshipBergen County · 43,329 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #201 of 466
96Hamilton TownshipAtlantic County · 28,845 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #419 of 466
97GlassboroGloucester County · 24,483 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #337 of 466
98North WildwoodCape May County · 3,518 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #417 of 466
99Readington TownshipHunterdon County · 16,406 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #132 of 466
100Bedminster TownshipSomerset County · 8,285 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #76 of 466
101Long Hill TownshipMorris County · 8,684 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #187 of 466
102Union TownshipHunterdon County · 6,649 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #152 of 466
103Freehold TownshipMonmouth County · 36,052 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #195 of 466
104Woodland ParkPassaic County · 13,623 peopleA+better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #264 of 466
105Cranford TownshipUnion County · 24,725 peopleA+better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #55 of 466
106Shamong TownshipBurlington County · 6,659 peopleA+better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #302 of 466
107MillvilleCumberland County · 28,098 peopleA+better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #454 of 466
109Springfield TownshipUnion County · 18,342 peopleA+better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #177 of 466
112Upper TownshipCape May County · 12,355 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #252 of 466
114Blairstown TownshipWarren County · 5,815 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #249 of 466
115Hazlet TownshipMonmouth County · 20,743 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #171 of 466
116Aberdeen TownshipMonmouth County · 19,535 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #218 of 466
117Tabernacle TownshipBurlington County · 7,014 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #299 of 466
118Hanover TownshipMorris County · 15,105 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #169 of 466
119Eastampton TownshipBurlington County · 6,603 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #328 of 466
120South Brunswick TownshipMiddlesex County · 47,454 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #125 of 466
121Old Bridge TownshipMiddlesex County · 70,228 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #237 of 466
122Washington TownshipMorris County · 18,309 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #75 of 466
123Sparta TownshipSussex County · 20,431 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #83 of 466
124Evesham TownshipBurlington County · 49,525 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #217 of 466
125Medford TownshipBurlington County · 25,612 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #115 of 466
126Colts Neck TownshipMonmouth County · 9,989 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #120 of 466
127Seaside HeightsOcean County · 2,549 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #459 of 466
130Knowlton TownshipWarren County · 2,947 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #370 of 466
131Pemberton TownshipBurlington County · 27,611 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #387 of 466
132Wayne TownshipPassaic County · 54,819 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #214 of 466
133East Hanover TownshipMorris County · 11,457 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #190 of 466
134Livingston TownshipEssex County · 32,223 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #39 of 466
138Hardyston TownshipSussex County · 8,541 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #205 of 466
139White TownshipWarren County · 4,706 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #314 of 466
140Mantua TownshipGloucester County · 15,582 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #181 of 466
141Dennis TownshipCape May County · 6,100 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #356 of 466
144Peapack and GladstoneSomerset County · 2,587 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #128 of 466
145Commercial TownshipCumberland County · 4,767 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #466 of 466
147Egg Harbor CityAtlantic County · 4,426 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #418 of 466
148Lyndhurst TownshipBergen County · 22,343 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #236 of 466
150Tewksbury TownshipHunterdon County · 5,925 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #47 of 466
151Jackson TownshipOcean County · 61,281 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #231 of 466
152Harmony TownshipWarren County · 2,542 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #408 of 466
154Howell TownshipMonmouth County · 55,156 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #225 of 466
157Manalapan TownshipMonmouth County · 40,987 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #94 of 466
158Hamilton TownshipMercer County · 94,157 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #346 of 466
159East Amwell TownshipHunterdon County · 3,952 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #168 of 466
161Middle TownshipCape May County · 19,990 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #405 of 466
162Atlantic CityAtlantic County · 38,787 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #465 of 466
163Holland TownshipHunterdon County · 5,239 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #324 of 466
164Bordentown TownshipBurlington County · 12,821 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #226 of 466
165Robbinsville TownshipMercer County · 15,958 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #89 of 466
166Westampton TownshipBurlington County · 9,436 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #312 of 466
169Moorestown TownshipBurlington County · 22,262 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #118 of 466
173Rochelle Park TownshipBergen County · 5,972 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #267 of 466
174Ventnor CityAtlantic County · 9,345 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #403 of 466
176National ParkGloucester County · 3,088 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #348 of 466
177Egg Harbor TownshipAtlantic County · 48,435 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #373 of 466
178Lopatcong TownshipWarren County · 9,537 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #257 of 466
179Fairfield TownshipCumberland County · 5,440 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #464 of 466
181Winslow TownshipCamden County · 40,562 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #344 of 466
184Delran TownshipBurlington County · 18,909 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #296 of 466
185Pompton LakesPassaic County · 11,246 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #129 of 466
186Point Pleasant BeachOcean County · 4,993 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #261 of 466
187Cherry Hill TownshipCamden County · 79,965 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #180 of 466
188Branchburg TownshipSomerset County · 15,511 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #138 of 466
189Long Beach TownshipOcean County · 3,148 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #336 of 466
190Galloway TownshipAtlantic County · 38,380 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #378 of 466
193Little SilverMonmouth County · 6,124 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #20 of 466
195Liberty TownshipWarren County · 2,701 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #283 of 466
197Frankford TownshipSussex County · 5,368 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #319 of 466
198Marlboro TownshipMonmouth County · 42,254 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #90 of 466
199Plumsted TownshipOcean County · 9,991 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #349 of 466
200Maurice River TownshipCumberland County · 4,780 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #462 of 466
202Englewood CliffsBergen County · 5,384 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #53 of 466
205Lawrence TownshipCumberland County · 3,167 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #446 of 466
206Mansfield TownshipWarren County · 7,996 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #327 of 466
207Independence TownshipWarren County · 5,666 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #136 of 466
208Greenwich TownshipWarren County · 5,726 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #286 of 466
209Cranbury TownshipMiddlesex County · 4,240 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #25 of 466
210River Vale TownshipBergen County · 10,555 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #6 of 466
211Buena Vista TownshipAtlantic County · 7,175 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #415 of 466
213Fredon TownshipSussex County · 3,332 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #166 of 466
218BernardsvilleSomerset County · 7,966 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #41 of 466
220SayrevilleMiddlesex County · 46,787 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #273 of 466
221Monroe TownshipGloucester County · 38,137 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #281 of 466
222BridgetonCumberland County · 28,307 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #463 of 466
225Brick TownshipOcean County · 77,402 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #308 of 466
226North Brunswick TownshipMiddlesex County · 45,097 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #311 of 466
227Delaware TownshipHunterdon County · 4,597 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #13 of 466
231Kingwood TownshipHunterdon County · 3,864 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #232 of 466
232Alexandria TownshipHunterdon County · 4,811 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #331 of 466
234Palisades ParkBergen County · 20,317 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #275 of 466
235Mount Laurel TownshipBurlington County · 47,738 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #258 of 466
238Ridgefield ParkBergen County · 13,372 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #274 of 466
239Monroe TownshipMiddlesex County · 49,830 peopleA−better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #106 of 466
240Montclair TownshipEssex County · 44,633 peopleA−better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #126 of 466
246Southampton TownshipBurlington County · 10,563 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #334 of 466
247LambertvilleHunterdon County · 4,198 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #220 of 466
248Weymouth TownshipAtlantic County · 2,751 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #388 of 466
249Franklin LakesBergen County · 11,180 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #21 of 466
251Wantage TownshipSussex County · 11,154 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #369 of 466
252Ewing TownshipMercer County · 39,030 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #397 of 466
253Margate CityAtlantic County · 5,194 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #139 of 466
254Spring Lake HeightsMonmouth County · 4,868 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #56 of 466
255Franklin TownshipWarren County · 3,049 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #271 of 466
257New BrunswickMiddlesex County · 57,133 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #458 of 466
258Gloucester TownshipCamden County · 67,085 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #306 of 466
259West Deptford TownshipGloucester County · 22,681 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #270 of 466
260Hopewell TownshipCumberland County · 4,517 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #411 of 466
261Edison TownshipMiddlesex County · 109,077 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #210 of 466
262Greenwich TownshipGloucester County · 5,026 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #179 of 466
264Toms River TownshipOcean County · 100,899 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #317 of 466
265Neptune TownshipMonmouth County · 28,273 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #428 of 466
266North HaledonPassaic County · 9,089 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #240 of 466
267Pohatcong TownshipWarren County · 3,578 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #379 of 466
275Union TownshipUnion County · 63,675 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #290 of 466
276Somers PointAtlantic County · 10,590 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #430 of 466
277Ocean TownshipMonmouth County · 28,088 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #315 of 466
279Pittsgrove TownshipSalem County · 9,039 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #381 of 466
280Waterford TownshipCamden County · 10,562 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #282 of 466
281Franklin TownshipHunterdon County · 3,288 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #65 of 466
282Belleville TownshipEssex County · 38,997 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #371 of 466
283Nutley TownshipEssex County · 30,744 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #149 of 466
284Mount ArlingtonMorris County · 5,985 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #95 of 466
285Mount Holly TownshipBurlington County · 10,645 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #380 of 466
287Logan TownshipGloucester County · 6,126 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #269 of 466
289Haddon TownshipCamden County · 15,649 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #279 of 466
291North Bergen TownshipHudson County · 61,483 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #375 of 466
294Warren TownshipSomerset County · 17,753 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #29 of 466
295Bound BrookSomerset County · 13,038 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #389 of 466
296Mansfield TownshipBurlington County · 9,199 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #167 of 466
297Highland ParkMiddlesex County · 15,259 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #248 of 466
299Pennsville TownshipSalem County · 12,923 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #427 of 466
301Raritan TownshipHunterdon County · 25,281 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #71 of 466
302Long BranchMonmouth County · 33,321 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #424 of 466
303Washington TownshipGloucester County · 49,840 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #227 of 466
306Weehawken TownshipHudson County · 17,827 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #244 of 466
307Bloomfield TownshipEssex County · 56,375 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #259 of 466
312Burlington TownshipBurlington County · 24,893 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #300 of 466
314Cinnaminson TownshipBurlington County · 17,930 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #289 of 466
315Piscataway TownshipMiddlesex County · 62,253 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #229 of 466
319South AmboyMiddlesex County · 10,403 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #335 of 466
321BordentownBurlington County · 4,108 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #154 of 466
326Chesterfield TownshipBurlington County · 9,046 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #36 of 466
329Saddle Brook TownshipBergen County · 14,441 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #191 of 466
330Tinton FallsMonmouth County · 19,539 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #219 of 466
332PleasantvilleAtlantic County · 20,853 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #455 of 466
333Woolwich TownshipGloucester County · 14,858 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #150 of 466
335VinelandCumberland County · 62,703 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #447 of 466
337West New YorkHudson County · 53,192 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #432 of 466
338East Greenwich TownshipGloucester County · 12,610 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #131 of 466
340Voorhees TownshipCamden County · 31,571 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #175 of 466
341Franklin TownshipGloucester County · 16,666 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #353 of 466
342Upper Deerfield TownshipCumberland County · 8,111 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #443 of 466
344Edgewater Park TownshipBurlington County · 9,617 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #401 of 466
345Little Falls TownshipPassaic County · 15,340 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #155 of 466
346South Bound BrookSomerset County · 4,926 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #365 of 466
347Springfield TownshipBurlington County · 3,315 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #301 of 466
348North ArlingtonBergen County · 16,601 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #223 of 466
350South RiverMiddlesex County · 16,262 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #330 of 466
351Willingboro TownshipBurlington County · 32,824 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #426 of 466
356Lumberton TownshipBurlington County · 13,171 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #343 of 466
357Hillside TownshipUnion County · 22,860 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #413 of 466
360Pennsauken TownshipCamden County · 37,742 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #423 of 466
363Woodbridge TownshipMiddlesex County · 104,802 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #277 of 466
364Quinton TownshipSalem County · 2,675 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #402 of 466
367City of Orange TownshipEssex County · 35,642 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #442 of 466
368North PlainfieldSomerset County · 22,879 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #410 of 466
369Woodcliff LakeBergen County · 6,193 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #24 of 466
370Lakewood TownshipOcean County · 143,765 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #392 of 466
373Green Brook TownshipSomerset County · 7,410 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #174 of 466
374Florence TownshipBurlington County · 13,385 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #239 of 466
378Pilesgrove TownshipSalem County · 4,280 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #158 of 466
379South Orange Village TownshipEssex County · 19,139 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #186 of 466
380Perth AmboyMiddlesex County · 56,739 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #436 of 466
381South PlainfieldMiddlesex County · 24,891 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #268 of 466
386West Long BranchMonmouth County · 8,625 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #193 of 466
387Gloucester CityCamden County · 11,643 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #391 of 466
391Irvington TownshipEssex County · 62,233 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #448 of 466
396Bradley BeachMonmouth County · 4,163 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #285 of 466
399Riverside TownshipBurlington County · 8,231 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #386 of 466
402Wyckoff TownshipBergen County · 17,224 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #74 of 466
405Woodbury HeightsGloucester County · 3,162 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #130 of 466
408Deptford TownshipGloucester County · 32,600 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #322 of 466
410Alloway TownshipSalem County · 3,338 peopleB−better than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #266 of 466
411MerchantvilleCamden County · 4,241 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #325 of 466
413Cliffside ParkBergen County · 26,539 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #263 of 466
414Carneys Point TownshipSalem County · 8,766 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #404 of 466
415Harrison TownshipGloucester County · 14,043 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #16 of 466
416Elk TownshipGloucester County · 4,520 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #194 of 466
417Deerfield TownshipCumberland County · 3,251 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #461 of 466
418SwedesboroGloucester County · 2,766 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #202 of 466
420East RutherfordBergen County · 10,566 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #287 of 466
422Berlin TownshipCamden County · 6,060 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #366 of 466
423Maple Shade TownshipBurlington County · 20,556 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #412 of 466
425South Harrison TownshipGloucester County · 3,479 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #134 of 466
429Little FerryBergen County · 11,099 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #333 of 466
433Upper Pittsgrove TownshipSalem County · 3,545 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #215 of 466
434North Hanover TownshipBurlington County · 8,189 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #351 of 466
435Neptune CityMonmouth County · 4,591 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #429 of 466
436Hasbrouck HeightsBergen County · 12,211 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #63 of 466
451Monmouth BeachMonmouth County · 3,226 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #34 of 466
454Washington TownshipBergen County · 9,392 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #82 of 466
456Upper Saddle RiverBergen County · 8,650 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #79 of 466
458South Hackensack TownshipBergen County · 2,755 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #377 of 466
460Medford LakesBurlington County · 4,403 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #122 of 466
466Prospect ParkPassaic County · 6,450 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #438 of 466
467New Hanover TownshipBurlington County · 6,237 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which New Jersey town is best for the outdoors?
Mountainside (Union County) ranks first on outdoors among 468 towns, with an A+; High Bridge and Mine Hill Township follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a outdoors grade (468 in New Jersey). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the New Jersey page.
Go deeper
All New Jersey rankings →More New Jersey lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live466 towns · #1 OradellBest small towns215 towns · #1 OradellMost affordable towns468 towns · #1 CamdenSafest towns342 towns · #1 EmersonTowns with the best schools465 towns · #1 Englewood CliffsHealthiest towns468 towns · #1 Mountain LakesBest towns for jobs & income468 towns · #1 Ho-Ho-KusMost walkable towns468 towns · #1 EdgewaterTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk468 towns · #1 Berlin TownshipMost historic towns468 towns · #1 BordentownTowns with the most civic life466 towns · #1 HaddonfieldTowns with the least snow451 towns · #1 Barnegat TownshipDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns451 towns · #1 Pohatcong TownshipDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters367 towns · #1 Cape MayDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers367 towns · #1 Greenwich Township and 3 moreDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers367 towns · #1 Vernon TownshipDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes468 towns · #1 Fair Haven and 7 moreDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes246 towns · #1 CamdenDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns465 towns · #1 Plumsted TownshipDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries234 towns · #1 PrincetonDescribed, no letters
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