---
title: 6. Berkeley Heights, NJ
description: 'Berkeley Heights is #6 on Money''s list of Best Places to Live'
authors:
  - name: timestaff
    url: https://money.com/author/timestaff/
    articles: 459
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      - Lifestyle
      - Banking
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published: '2014-05-30T15:07:05.000Z'
modified: '2014-05-30T15:07:05.000Z'
section: Lifestyle
tags:
  - Berkeley Heights
  - buying a home
  - home prices
  - Housing Market
  - New Jersey
  - real estate
  - selling a home
canonical: https://money.com/collection-post/berkeley-heights-nj-6-best-places-to-live/
type: Article
source: structured-blocks
---

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![201309_BPL_BERKELEYHEIGHTS](https://img.money.com/2014/05/201309_bpl_berkeleyheights.jpg)
*Berkeley Heights, NJ*

**Top 50 rank**: 6

**Population**: 13,345

Home to Alcatel Lucent's U.S. headquarters, close to major pharmaceutical makers, and a 50-minute commute into New York City, Berkeley Heights offers easy access to a wide range of jobs.

The dining scene in town has flourished in the past couple of years, thanks to new additions like Strega Bistro and Nagoya Sushi. The 2,000-acre Watchung Reservation gives locals a place to picnic, canoe, and ride horses. And the community has a neighborly feel.

On the downside, there are few major retailers. Plus the housing market can be daunting, though not out of line with the area. *\--D.R.*

<table style="height:53px"><tbody><tr><td><h3 class="collection-subhead">Berkeley Heights, NJ</h3></td><td></td><td>Town stats</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table style="height:177px"><tbody><tr><td>Median family income (per year)</td><td></td><td>$164,920</td></tr><tr><td>Job growth % (2010-2012)</td><td></td><td>5.69%</td></tr><tr><td>Median home price (2012)</td><td></td><td>$474,000</td></tr><tr><td>Reading test scores (% above/below average)</td><td></td><td>32.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Math test scores (% above/below average)</td><td></td><td>23.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Personal crime incidents (per 1,000)</td><td></td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Property crime incidents (per 1,000)</td><td></td><td>5</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table style="height:234px"><tbody><tr><td><h3 class="collection-subhead">Financials</h3></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Median family income (per year)</td><td></td><td>$164,920</td></tr><tr><td>Family purchasing power (annual, cost-of-living adjusted)</td><td></td><td>$107,412</td></tr><tr><td>Sales tax (state)</td><td></td><td>6.91%</td></tr><tr><td>State income tax rate (highest bracket)</td><td></td><td>8.97%<sup>I</sup></td></tr><tr><td>State income tax rate (lowest bracket)</td><td></td><td>1.40%<sup>I</sup></td></tr><tr><td>Auto insurance premiums (Average price quotes, for the state)</td><td></td><td>$1,977</td></tr><tr><td>Job growth % (2010-2012)</td><td></td><td>5.69%</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table style="height:103px"><tbody><tr><td><h3 class="collection-subhead">Housing</h3></td></tr><tr><td>Median home price (2012)</td><td></td><td>$474,000</td></tr><tr><td>Average property taxes (2011)</td><td></td><td>$10,959</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table style="height:153px"><tbody><tr><td><h3 class="collection-subhead">Education</h3></td></tr><tr><td>Colleges, universities and professional schools (within 30 miles)</td><td></td><td>124</td></tr><tr><td>Reading test scores (% above/below state average)</td><td></td><td>32.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Test scores math (% above/below average)</td><td></td><td>23.2%</td></tr><tr><td>% students attending public/private schools (located within town limits)</td><td></td><td>100.0/0.0</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table style="height:203px"><tbody><tr><td><h3 class="collection-subhead">Quality of life</h3></td></tr><tr><td>Air quality index* (% of days AQI ranked as good)</td><td></td><td>83.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Personal crime incidents (per 1,000)</td><td></td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Property crime incidents (per 1,000)</td><td></td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Median commute time (in minutes)</td><td></td><td>28.2</td></tr><tr><td>% population with commute 45 mins. or longer</td><td></td><td>25.6%</td></tr><tr><td>% population walk or bike to work</td><td></td><td>1.9%</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table style="height:253px"><tbody><tr><td><h3 class="collection-subhead">Leisure and culture</h3></td></tr><tr><td>Movie theaters (within 15 miles)</td><td></td><td>53</td></tr><tr><td>Restaurants (within 15 miles)</td><td></td><td>6,116</td></tr><tr><td>Bars (within 15 miles)</td><td></td><td>483</td></tr><tr><td>Public golf courses (within 30 miles)</td><td></td><td>272</td></tr><tr><td>Libraries (within 15 miles)</td><td></td><td>130</td></tr><tr><td>Museums (accredited by AAM; within 30 miles)</td><td></td><td>27</td></tr><tr><td>Ski resorts (within 100 miles)</td><td></td><td>N.A.</td></tr><tr><td>Arts funding (Dollars per person of state funds spent on arts)</td><td></td><td>1.6</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table style="height:153px"><tbody><tr><td><h3 class="collection-subhead">Weather</h3></td></tr><tr><td>Annual rainfall (inches)</td><td></td><td>46.25</td></tr><tr><td>% clear days in the area</td><td></td><td>56%</td></tr><tr><td>High temp in July ° F</td><td></td><td>86.6°</td></tr><tr><td>Low temp in Jan ° F</td><td></td><td>21.5°</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table style="height:178px"><tbody><tr><td><h3 class="collection-subhead">Meet the neighbors</h3></td></tr><tr><td>Median age</td><td></td><td>43.0</td></tr><tr><td>Completed at least some college (% of residents)</td><td></td><td>72.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Married %</td><td></td><td>62.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Divorced %</td><td></td><td>6.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Racial diversity index (100 is national average; higher numbers indicate greater diversity)</td><td></td><td>61.2</td></tr></tbody></table>

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