New Jersey has been ranked as the third-best state for “quality of life,” as defined and ranked by CNBC.
The state having the ninth-lowest violent crime rate in the U.S., which may contribute to its overall high ranking. New Jersey saw the fewest number of murders in more than 40 years in 2023, according to FBI statistics, and records show that gun violence has dropped over the years.
Federal stats also reveal which municipalities in New Jersey are growing at the fastest rates.
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New Jersey is also considered a healthy state, with the second-lowest rate of premature deaths and the smallest percentage of adults with multiple chronic conditions, according to the United Health Foundation.
These factors, along with the fact that New Jersey has an unemployment rate of 4.8% (as of May 2025), are all possible contributors to the population growth throughout the state.
How has New Jersey grown over the years?
New Jersey began 2025 with record levels of growth, according to the New Jersey government website. This growth included the largest number of jobs and employers to date and the largest population in the state’s history.
The state leads in Northeast year-over-year population growth with a 1.3% increase (which outpaces the other states in the region), and is 10th nationwide for year-over-year population growth.
The New Jersey government website also states that the state is 11th in the United States for total population.
U.S. Census Bureau data shows which municipalities saw the most rapid population growth in New Jersey between 2020-2024. A few of them, including the fastest-growing township, are located in South Jersey.
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The fastest-growing towns in New Jersey
1. Woolwich Township, Gloucester County: Grew by 16.55% from 2020 (12,645 residents) to 2024 (14,658 residents). The most growth was in 2024.
2. Plumsted Township, Ocean County: Grew by 16.39% from 2020 (8,067 residents) to 2024 (9,387 residents). The most growth was in 2024.
3. Florham Park Borough, Morris County: Grew by 15.49% from 2020 (12,615 residents) to 2024 (14,533 residents). The most growth was in 2023.
4. Montvale Borough, Bergen County: Grew by 14.41% from 2020 (8,436 residents) to 2024 (9,663 residents). The most growth was in 2023.
5. Harrison, a town in Hudson County: Grew by 13.99% from 2020 (19,482 residents) to 2024 (22,182 residents). The most growth was in 2023.
6. Merchantville Borough, Camden County: Grew by 10.60% from 2020 (3,815 residents) to 2024 (4,226 residents). Most of that growth was in 2024.
7. Dunellen Borough, Middlesex County: Grew by 10.08% from 2020 (7,618 residents) to 2024 (8,411 residents). The most growth was in 2023.
8. Berkeley Heights Township, Union County: Grew by 9.44% from 2020 (13,203 residents) to 2024 (14,510 residents). The most growth was in 2024.
9. Chatham Borough, Morris County: Grew by 9.27% from 2020 (9,191 residents) to 2024 (10,062 residents). The most growth was in 2024.
10. West Windsor Township, Mercer County: Grew by 9.25% from 2020 (29,530 residents) to 2024 (32,241 residents). The most growth was in 2024.
11. Montville Township, Morris County: Grew by 8.96% from 2020 (22,392 residents) to 2024 (24,456 residents). The most growth was in 2024.
12. Cranbury Township, Middlesex County: Grew by 8.48% from 2020 (3,903 residents) to 2024 (4,170 residents). The most growth was in 2024.
13. Bordentown Township, Burlington County: Grew by 7.84% from 2020 (11,794 residents) to 2024 (12,732 residents). The most growth was in 2024.
14. Raritan Township, Hunterdon County: Grew by 7.82% from 2020 (23,532 residents) to 2024 (25,288 residents). The most growth was in 2024.
15. Old Tappan Borough, Bergen County: Grew by 7.75% from 2020 (5,866 residents) to 2024 (6,342 residents). The most growth was in 2023.
How were the fastest-growing towns in NJ determined?
Data was collected from the United States Census Bureau’s annual estimates of the resident population for minor civil subdivisions from April 1, 2020, through July 1, 2024.
The list ranks the percentage change in population between the earliest and most recent population estimates, excluding some towns where the data could be misleading.
Towns with a total population in the bottom 25% of the state were also excluded. This was done because a relatively small jump in total residents could potentially appear as a misleadingly large increase.
Contributing: Chris Ullery.
Risha Inaganti writes about trending topics across South Jersey for the Courier-Post. If you have a story she should tell, email her at rinaganti@gannettnj.com. Subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: These New Jersey towns have had the fastest growth in the state