The 10 Worst Places To Live In New Jersey For 2023

The 10 Worst Places To Live In New Jersey For 2023

As the largest city in New Jersey, Newark proves that old adage that bigger isn’t always better (in this case, it’s the worst im New Jersey).

The median household income in Newark is the 5th lowest on this list at $41,335.

Add that to a crime index in the worst 5% of all places in New Jersey and an unemployment rate that’s nearly double the national average, and it’s not a stretch to say Newark truly is part of the armpit of America.

Bridgeton ranks as the 3rd worst place to live in New Jersey for 2023, let’s take a look at why.

Built along the Cohansey River in the southern part of the state, Bridgeton once prospered as a manufacturing center. Those jobs started to flee during the 1980s and now the town’s economic base has eroded away.

As a result of this deindustrialization, the unemployment rate now stands at 7.0% and the median income equals $39,995. These conditions leave 35.1% of the town’s 26,643 residents below the poverty line.

There are bright spots in town. The river provides excellent views and the town features loads of parks, including the Cohanzick Zoo. You can also check out the region’s past at educational attractions like the Nail House Museum.

Plainfield sits on the edge of a massive urban landscape that includes both Newark and New York City. This gives the area easy access to city amenities, with a 45-minute drive taking you into the heart of Manhattan. Meanwhile, a quick trip in the other direction will land you in the middle of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

This might seem like the best of both worlds: cityscapes and natural beauty. But Plainfield comes with a troubling economic situation. The town suffers with high unemployment and a poverty rate over 20%.

At the same time, the proximity of larger metropolitan areas drives up real estate values. Locals have trouble affording the $287,300 median home price on a median income of $63,750.

Camden sits along the Delaware River, across the water from Philadelphia. As a major urban center, the city offers significant attractions, such as an aquarium and a decommissioned battleship called the USS New Jersey.

However, Camden also suffers from significant urban blight. More than a third of the city’s 72,381 residents struggle below the poverty line. This comes as a result of a $30,247 median income and a 14.2% unemployment rate.

Housing and education are serious problems as well. Meanwhile, the crime rate runs nearly 90% above the U.S. norm.

With a name like “Wildwood,” you might picture an enchanted forest, filled with nymphs and endless acres of trees. Nope. Wildwood sits at the southern tip of New Jersey, along the Atlantic Shore.

But while the town doesn’t offer much in the way of literal wild woods, it does have excellent beach access and plenty of oceanside fun. That’s the good part. The bad part? Well, a double-digit unemployment rate, poverty nearing 20%, and a crime rate that nearly triples the national average.

On top of this, living in Wildwood is expensive. The cost of living tops the U.S. norm by 10% and the median home price equals $266,100.

Vineland has an attraction known as the Palace of Depression. No, really. The location was first built in the 1930s by a wealthy local ruined by the Great Depression. The house made of junk, known as the “strangest house in the world,” was torn down in 1969 but a recent effort has been made to restore the strange landmark.

So what’s wrong with a town that would build a place called “the Palace of Depression” more than once? The economy, of course. The median income hovers at the relatively healthy figure of $60,018, but the unemployment rate runs 8.3%. Also, the cost of living tops the U.S. standard by 10% and crime comes in above the national average.

You can see Linden from Statin Island, just across the water in New York. That kind of sums it up: within sight of NYC, but only an outer borough. Manhattan still requires a trip up the New Jersey Turnpike.

Linden actually supports a respectable local economy, unlike most of the other places on this list. It also benefits from a strong housing market and a diverse population. Still, being part of a major metropolitan area comes with drawbacks. The cost of living is well above the national average. At the same time, crime in the area is elevated and the local schools miss expectations.

You’ve heard of the Jersey Shore, right? Well, Long Branch is part of that stretch of the Atlantic Coast. As such, the town comes with beaches and beautiful seaside vistas. Unfortunately, when you get away from the sun and waves, things turn a little bleak. It ranks as the 10th worst place to live in New Jersey for 2023.

It’s difficult to find a job in Long Branch. The unemployment rate stands at 7.5%.
At the same time, the ocean property draws rich tourists from New York and other nearby urban areas. This drives up the cost of living in town, making it hard for locals to make ends meet. The median home price in town sits at $392,600, compared to a median income of $65,369.