Shortest average commutes in North & Central NJ
Average one-way travel time for workers who don’t work from home (Census).
| # | Town | County | Avg commute | Commute by transit | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Hackensack | Bergen | 21.2 min | 4.9% | $699K |
| 2 | Fairfield | Essex | 21.5 min | 5% | $818K |
| 3 | Eatontown | Monmouth | 22 min | 1.8% | $653K |
| 4 | Raritan | Somerset | 22.2 min | 0.7% | $542K |
| 5 | Jamesburg | Middlesex | 22.4 min | 1.6% | $456K |
| 6 | Boonton | Morris | 22.4 min | 0.4% | n/a |
| 7 | Freehold | Monmouth | 22.5 min | 4.1% | n/a |
| 8 | Paterson | Passaic | 22.6 min | 7.4% | $541K |
| 9 | Woodland Park | Passaic | 22.8 min | 1.6% | $651K |
| 10 | Prospect Park | Passaic | 22.9 min | 1.7% | $550K |
| 11 | West Long Branch | Monmouth | 23.2 min | 1.7% | $997K |
| 12 | New Brunswick | Middlesex | 23.3 min | 4.6% | $439K |
| 13 | Perth Amboy | Middlesex | 23.5 min | 2.8% | $493K |
| 14 | Bound Brook | Somerset | 23.5 min | 2% | $509K |
| 15 | Neptune City | Monmouth | 23.9 min | 0.7% | n/a |
| 16 | Hanover | Morris | 23.9 min | 1.2% | n/a |
| 17 | Morristown | Morris | 23.9 min | 2.1% | $906K |
| 18 | Rockaway | Morris | 23.9 min | 0.8% | n/a |
| 19 | Saddle Brook | Bergen | 24.4 min | 8% | $663K |
| 20 | Carlstadt | Bergen | 24.6 min | 7.6% | $662K |
| 21 | Hawthorne | Passaic | 24.6 min | 2% | $644K |
| 22 | Kenilworth | Union | 24.7 min | 4% | $625K |
| 23 | Haledon | Passaic | 25 min | 4.3% | $564K |
| 24 | East Hanover | Morris | 25.1 min | 2% | $856K |
| 25 | Passaic | Passaic | 25.3 min | 11.9% | $555K |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Sept. 30, 2026. Municipalities with at least 2,000 residents in Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Union, Middlesex, Somerset and Monmouth counties. Click a column to sort.
How to use this ranking
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Questions, answered
Which NJ town ranks #1 for shortest average commutes?
South Hackensack (Bergen County), at 21.2 min, among 258 municipalities with at least 2,000 residents. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates.
Where does this data come from?
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Rankings cover municipalities in Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Union, Middlesex, Somerset and Monmouth counties with at least 2,000 residents.
Is this a list of the best places to live?
It ranks one measurable factor. For a combined view, try the best places to live scorecard, where you set the weights.
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