Four New Jersey communities appear on SmartAsset’s 2025 list of America’s safest suburbs, highlighting low crime and traffic death rates in the state. However, the list begs the question: what even is a suburb?
The four towns that earned recognition among the top 360 suburbs in the U.S. are Hoboken, Fort Lee, Jersey City, and Edgewater. The communities were measured by SmartAsset for violent and property crime, vehicular deaths, drug overdose rates and excessive drinking, placing them amongs the top in the nation.
According to the study, Edgewater and Fort Lee reported the lowest traffic fatalities in New Jersey, at roughly 4.4 deaths per 100,000 residents. Hoboken also scored well on traffic safety, while Jersey City showed relatively low drug overdose and property crime rates compared to national averages.
Suburbs or City?
Many question the validity of the list. Experts note that some of these locations, particularly Hoboken and Jersey City, are highly urbanized and densely populated. While SmartAsset categorizes them as suburbs based on proximity to Manhattan and commuting patterns, many residents consider them full-fledged cities rather than traditional suburban communities. Fort Lee and Edgewater, with more residential neighborhoods and commuter populations, more closely fit the classic definition of a suburb, but are still highly dense in population, transit and more factors which are commonly associated with cities.
Housing remains expensive across these safe NJ communities. Edgewater’s median monthly housing cost is $2,769 with a household income of $137,847, while Fort Lee residents pay roughly $2,055 per month with a median income of $105,535. Hoboken and Jersey City have similarly high costs and incomes, reflecting their location as prime real estate destinations in the New York metropolitan area.
The SmartAsset survey ranked 360 suburbs within 45 minutes of major cities nationwide. Lehi, Utah, topped the list as the safest suburb in the country, with the lowest rates of excessive drinking and strong performance across various crime metrics. Other top performers include Bethesda, MD; Great Falls, VA; and McKinney, TX.
The study’s methodology considered violent and property crimes, traffic deaths, drug overdoses, and adult binge drinking, alongside median housing costs and household income. These factors were combined to provide a full picture of safety and affordability.
Still… Jersey City and Hoboken labeled as suburbs? We’re not convinced.
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The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.