Ask people what they love about living in South Jersey and undoubtedly you’ll get the familiar answers about its proximity to major cities like Philadelphia and New York, or that it’s a quick shot down the Parkway to the Shore. But what really makes this area such a great place to call home is its surrounding communities and all they have to offer. From tranquil park settings and buzzworthy restaurants to top-notch schools and cutting-edge medical facilities, we are lucky to have such great resources at our disposal.
For our annual Top Towns rankings, we dug deep into these areas in an effort to devise this year’s rankings. We also used key data compiled from the state police, the state department of local government services and the state department of education. We then devised a weighted formula that combined average property values and taxes, crime incidents reported per 1,000 residents and high school performance (consisting of SAT scores, the number of AP classes offered and graduation rates). The towns are broken into two categories: a population more than 10,000 (big towns) and fewer than 10,000 (small towns).
Taking the top spot this year is Marlton, a community that has been buzzing lately with several development projects. Add in a highly respected school system, solid property values, quality dining and retail options and a focus on civic engagement and it’s easy to see why they are No. 1. That’s not to say that several other towns wouldn’t be worthy of the recognition, in fact, the data is incredibly close for all the towns in the top five. The bottom line: The sum is greater than the parts and it’s just another example of why South Jersey is a great place to call home.
THE TOP 25 OVERALL
Marlton
Moorestown
Haddonfield
Medford
Harrison Township
Woolwich
Voorhees
Washington Township
Cherry Hill
Mount Laurel
Mantua
Southampton
Cinnaminson
Burlington Township
Waterford
Delran
Lumberton
West Deptford
Bordentown
Haddon Township
Franklin Township
Monroe Township
Florence
Collingswood
Gloucester Township
THE TOP 10 SMALL TOWNS
Chesterfield
Medford Lakes
Shamong
Tabernacle
North Hanover Township
Mansfield
East Greenwich Township
Berlin
Haddon Heights
Wenonah
THE TOP 10 BY COUNTY
Burlington
Marlton
Moorestown
Medford
Mount Laurel
Southampton
Cinnaminson
Burlington Township
Delran
Lumberton
Bordentown Township
Camden
Haddonfield
Voorhees
Cherry Hill
Waterford
Haddon Township
Collingswood
Gloucester Township
Bellmawr
Winslow Township
Pine Hill
Gloucester
Harrison Township
Woolwich
Washington Township
Mantua
West Deptford
Franklin Township
Monroe Township
Glassboro
Deptford
Woodbury
A LOOK AROUND
Marlton
A South Jersey suburb with a tight-knit community, Evesham Township bursts with opportunities for a nurturing family life as well as a hub for business endeavors. Long-awaited commercial and residential projects that were on the horizon in previous years have come to fruition. Completed projects include the four-story, 55-unit Jackie’s Crossing apartment complex and big-name eateries such as Chickie’s & Pete’s, Shake Shack and Honeygrow, among others.
Medford
Known for more than half of the town’s land being dedicated open space, Medford is nestled between farmland and the Pinelands National Reserve. Keeping its “hometown” charm intact, shops and eateries line historic Main Street while camps, bike paths and trails promote recreational activities—making it a beautiful municipality for families in our area to settle.
Harrison Township
Home to integrated communities like Mullica Hill, Harrison Township’s almost 20 square miles span across farmlands and tight-knit communities. The township is also home to the William Heritage Winery—which has been growing in popularity after being named the state’s “Winery of the Year” in 2011 and 2014 by the Garden State Wine Grower’s Association. On the horizon, construction is underway for the township’s Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill that is slated to be completed in December of next year. The five-story, $349 million facility will have 204 beds.
Voorhees
A bustling township in Camden County, Voorhees’ less than 12 square miles are filled with opportunities where businesses bloom, grow and undergo redevelopment. Proposed plans for a Super Wawa and Tractor Supply Co. are stirring within the township that would be located on Route 73 by Kresson Road. The Voorhees Town Center, previously the Echelon Mall, might be undergoing a redevelopment in the future if town officials condemn the space, which is almost 50 percent vacant.
Cinnaminson
Blending its community, families and businesses, Cinnaminson prides itself on offering an effective education that has led to a 90 percent graduation rate. With caring neighbors and a local government to be proud of, the township opens its arms to new businesses looking for roots while building up those that are already here growing. Projects in the works include a new hotel, restaurant and two retail pads along Route 130, and affordable senior housing on Riverton Road to name a few.
Haddon Township
Boasting a small-town charm, Haddon Township’s downtown district on Haddon Avenue gives residents and visitors alike the access to mom-and-pop businesses, restaurants and even a place to take a stroll with family and friends. New businesses on the horizon include a small-format, 48,000-square-foot Target that is slated to open in July at the Westmont Plaza, while PJW Group’s taco and tequila bar at the former Irish Mile location is also planning a July opening.
Collingswood
With a thriving main drag where shops and eateries of all kinds sit along Haddon Avenue, Collingswood has a reputation for being close to the city without the hustle and bustle. With a population of less than 14,000 people, the town caters to its residents by holding a myriad of events throughout the year like First Friday, the Collingswood Farmer’s Market, Pop Up Gala, Restaurant Week and more.
Chesterfield
One of the state’s original 104 townships, this small town in Burlington County spans just less than 22 square miles with a population of just under 7,700 people. Wanting to keep farmland sacred, Chesterfield has preserved more than 7,000 acres through state and county programs. This was also made possible by the Old York Village community that was built on 560 acres of land.
Shamong
A member of the Pinelands National Reserve, Shamong’s almost 45 square miles of land are green with trees and farmland making it a good area to cultivate crops. Home to Valenzano Family Winery, one of the area’s most popular with award-winning wines, the winery maintains 88 acres of farmland to grow its vineyards. In other news, as of February, Shamong and Medford Lakes have merged municipal courts bringing all matters to the Medford Lakes’ court.
East Greenwich Township
A small residential and farming community in Gloucester County, home to unincorporated communities like Clarksboro and result, East Greenwich has focused building its township on the basis of family, friendship and love. Maryland-based convenience store Royal Farms recently opened its doors at the former Berkley Diner site.
South Jersey Magazine Kaytlyn Mroz and Peter Proko Volume 15, Issue 2 May 2018
