Clifton has been ranked the No. 1 place to live among 14 New Jersey cities included in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Places to Live rankings for 2026–2027.
The Passaic County city received an overall score of 5.6 out of 10, followed by Jersey City at 5.2 and Bayonne at 5.1. Vineland and Union City completed the top five.
The ranking considered four major factors: value, quality of life, desirability and strength of the local job market. Value carried the greatest weight at 28%, followed by quality of life at 27%, desirability at 24% and job market at 21%. The analysis also incorporated factors such as housing affordability, cost of living, education, health care, crime, commuting, unemployment and household income.
Clifton also held the top New Jersey position in the previous U.S. News ranking. The city, located in Passaic County and close to New York City, has a median household income of about $105,000, according to figures cited by NJBIZ.
The full New Jersey order in the 2026–2027 ranking is: Clifton, Jersey City, Bayonne, Vineland, Union City, Passaic, Elizabeth, East Orange, Paterson, New Brunswick, Newark, Camden, Trenton and Atlantic City.
The ranking does not mean Clifton was judged the best municipality out of every community in New Jersey. U.S. News included 14 New Jersey cities in this particular list, so the result is best described as Clifton ranking first among the New Jersey locations evaluated.
Sources: News 12 New Jersey; NJBIZ; U.S. News & World Report
By NJ RADAR Team