The 25 Best College Small Towns in New Jersey

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 352 towns of 500–10,000 people in New Jersey. #1 is Rutgers University-Busch Campus, NJ.

1. 25Butler, New Jersey

   More of a college town than 94% of New Jersey towns

   Butler is a borough of 8,047 people in Morris County, New Jersey. It also ranks hipper than 88% of New Jersey towns and more vibrant than 85% of New Jersey towns.

   8,047 people · Morris County · median home $442,500 · income $111,557 · Jan low 20°F · 28 in snow

   Full Butler, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Jamesburg, New Jersey

   More of a college town than 95% of New Jersey towns

   Jamesburg is a borough of 5,783 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It also ranks more vibrant than 91% of New Jersey towns and better for cycling than 90% of New Jersey towns.

   5,783 people · Middlesex County · median home $367,200 · income $110,972 · Jan low 23°F · 29 in snow

   Full Jamesburg, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Bloomingdale, New Jersey

   More of a college town than 95% of New Jersey towns

   Bloomingdale is a borough of 7,777 people in Passaic County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for retirees than 75% of New Jersey towns and easier by car than 72% of New Jersey towns.

   7,777 people · Passaic County · median home $432,000 · income $127,500 · Jan low 20°F · 28 in snow

   Full Bloomingdale, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Caldwell, New Jersey

   More of a college town than 95% of New Jersey towns

   Caldwell is a borough of 9,027 people in Essex County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for young professionals than 99% of New Jersey towns and more vibrant than 97% of New Jersey towns.

   9,027 people · Essex County · median home $575,400 · income $96,824 · Jan low 21°F · 24 in snow

   Full Caldwell, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Singac, New Jersey

   More of a college town than 96% of New Jersey towns

   Singac is a community of 3,602 people in Passaic County, New Jersey. It also ranks better transit than 97% of New Jersey towns and more vibrant than 90% of New Jersey towns.

   3,602 people · Passaic County · median home $427,400 · income $104,519 · Jan low 23°F · 27 in snow

   Full Singac, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20McGuire AFB, New Jersey

   More of a college town than 96% of New Jersey towns

   McGuire AFB is a community of 4,522 people in Burlington County, New Jersey. The median home is worth — (typical New Jersey town: $435,600).

   4,522 people · Burlington County · median home — · income $74,071 · Jan low 23°F · 25 in snow

   Full McGuire AFB, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Dunellen, New Jersey

   More of a college town than 96% of New Jersey towns

   Dunellen is a borough of 7,637 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It also ranks better transit than 99% of New Jersey towns and more walkable than 95% of New Jersey towns.

   7,637 people · Middlesex County · median home $393,500 · income $86,967 · Jan low 24°F · 21 in snow

   Full Dunellen, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Bogota, New Jersey

   More of a college town than 96% of New Jersey towns

   Bogota is a borough of 8,778 people in Bergen County, New Jersey. It also ranks more walkable than 99% of New Jersey towns and better transit than 92% of New Jersey towns.

   8,778 people · Bergen County · median home $501,600 · income $103,299 · Jan low 26°F · 30 in snow

   Full Bogota, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17River Vale, New Jersey

   More of a college town than 96% of New Jersey towns

   River Vale is a township of 9,909 people in Bergen County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for families than 89% of New Jersey towns and more upscale than 88% of New Jersey towns.

   9,909 people · Bergen County · median home $775,000 · income $213,666 · Jan low 23°F · 33 in snow

   Full River Vale, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Roebling, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 97% of New Jersey towns

    Roebling is a community of 3,585 people in Burlington County, New Jersey. It also ranks better transit than 73% of New Jersey towns and more walkable than 71% of New Jersey towns.

    3,585 people · Burlington County · median home $198,200 · income $88,750 · Jan low 23°F · 25 in snow

    Full Roebling, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Mine Hill, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 97% of New Jersey towns

    Mine Hill is a township of 4,015 people in Morris County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for families than 76% of New Jersey towns.

    4,015 people · Morris County · median home $434,100 · income $119,583 · Jan low 21°F · 28 in snow

    Full Mine Hill, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Ampere North, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 97% of New Jersey towns

    Ampere North is a community of 5,132 people in Essex County, New Jersey. It also ranks more vibrant than 100% of New Jersey towns and better transit than 100% of New Jersey towns.

    5,132 people · Essex County · median home $365,600 · income $66,714 · Jan low 25°F · 28 in snow

    Full Ampere North, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Raritan, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 97% of New Jersey towns

    Raritan is a borough of 7,835 people in Somerset County, New Jersey. It also ranks more vibrant than 93% of New Jersey towns and better for young professionals than 90% of New Jersey towns.

    7,835 people · Somerset County · median home $456,900 · income $107,672 · Jan low 19°F · 21 in snow

    Full Raritan, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12East Newark, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 98% of New Jersey towns

    East Newark is a borough of 2,594 people in Hudson County, New Jersey. It also ranks more walkable than 100% of New Jersey towns and better transit than 99% of New Jersey towns.

    2,594 people · Hudson County · median home $470,300 · income $48,646 · Jan low 25°F · 28 in snow

    Full East Newark, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Emerson, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 98% of New Jersey towns

    Emerson is a borough of 7,290 people in Bergen County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for families than 93% of New Jersey towns and better transit than 93% of New Jersey towns.

    7,290 people · Bergen County · median home $645,200 · income $155,536 · Jan low 26°F · 31 in snow

    Full Emerson, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Washington, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 98% of New Jersey towns

    Washington is a borough of 7,299 people in Warren County, New Jersey. It also ranks hipper than 97% of New Jersey towns and better for first-time buyers than 90% of New Jersey towns.

    7,299 people · Warren County · median home $263,300 · income $81,336 · Jan low 18°F · 23 in snow

    Full Washington, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Pitman, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 98% of New Jersey towns

    Pitman is a borough of 8,780 people in Gloucester County, New Jersey. It also ranks hipper than 96% of New Jersey towns and more walkable than 83% of New Jersey towns.

    8,780 people · Gloucester County · median home $279,300 · income $98,489 · Jan low 26°F · 22 in snow

    Full Pitman, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Park Ridge, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 98% of New Jersey towns

    Park Ridge is a borough of 8,883 people in Bergen County, New Jersey. It also ranks better transit than 96% of New Jersey towns and better for retirees than 84% of New Jersey towns.

    8,883 people · Bergen County · median home $706,200 · income $171,029 · Jan low 23°F · 33 in snow

    Full Park Ridge, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Rutgers University-Livingston Campus, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 99% of New Jersey towns

    Rutgers University-Livingston Campus is a community of 3,545 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for young professionals than 98% of New Jersey towns and better for cycling than 93% of New Jersey towns.

    3,545 people · Middlesex County · median home — · income — · Jan low 23°F · 29 in snow

    Full Rutgers University-Livingston Campus, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6High Bridge, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 99% of New Jersey towns

    High Bridge is a borough of 3,546 people in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. It also ranks better transit than 81% of New Jersey towns and hipper than 80% of New Jersey towns.

    3,546 people · Hunterdon County · median home $336,500 · income $112,467 · Jan low 21°F · 27 in snow

    Full High Bridge, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Union Beach, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 99% of New Jersey towns

    Union Beach is a borough of 5,723 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It also ranks more seaside character than 97% of New Jersey towns and better for first-time buyers than 89% of New Jersey towns.

    5,723 people · Monmouth County · median home $460,900 · income $119,250 · Jan low 23°F · 27 in snow

    Full Union Beach, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Hightstown, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 99% of New Jersey towns

    Hightstown is a borough of 5,900 people in Mercer County, New Jersey. It also ranks more walkable than 84% of New Jersey towns and better for cycling than 75% of New Jersey towns.

    5,900 people · Mercer County · median home $342,600 · income $108,987 · Jan low 21°F · 24 in snow

    Full Hightstown, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Rockaway, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 99% of New Jersey towns

    Rockaway is a borough of 6,598 people in Morris County, New Jersey. It also ranks hipper than 94% of New Jersey towns and better for young professionals than 88% of New Jersey towns.

    6,598 people · Morris County · median home $448,100 · income $107,053 · Jan low 21°F · 27 in snow

    Full Rockaway, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2North Haledon, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 99% of New Jersey towns

    

    North Haledon is a borough of 8,927 people in Passaic County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for families than 77% of New Jersey towns and more walkable than 71% of New Jersey towns.

    8,927 people · Passaic County · median home $547,600 · income $125,313 · Jan low 23°F · 28 in snow

    Full North Haledon, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Rutgers University-Busch Campus, New Jersey

    More of a college town than 100% of New Jersey towns

    Rutgers University-Busch Campus is a community of 4,586 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It also ranks better for young professionals than 98% of New Jersey towns and better for a vacation home than 98% of New Jersey towns.

    4,586 people · Middlesex County · median home — · income — · Jan low 23°F · 29 in snow

    Full Rutgers University-Busch Campus, New Jersey profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More New Jersey rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in New Jersey
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in New Jersey
• 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Jersey

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best College Small Towns in America
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in New York
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in Michigan
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in Texas
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in California