Middletown Township has been named one of the best places to live by MONEY magazine yet again.
“The Township Committee and I are very proud that MONEY magazine recognizes that Middletown is a very special community with a rich heritage, strong sense of volunteerism and a high quality of life,” said Mayor Stephanie Murray, noting this is the fourth time the township has been singled out by the publication. “It affirms our assertion that the township is a great place to live and work.”
A low crime rate, great schools, and access to an abundance of cultural and leisure activities are among the reasons that MONEY magazine has recognized Middletown as one of the best places to live in New Jersey and the Northeast Region in particular, said Mayor Stephanie C. Murray. The township is the only municipality to make the cut in Ocean and Monmouth counties.
Middletown received some of its best marks in the Quality of Life Category for safety and air quality. MONEY used the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report to measure safety. Middletown has a personal crime ratio of 1 out of 1,000 people. MONEY also reported that 92% of days reviewed had a “good” air quality index.
The township also ranked high in the Education category with access to 149 colleges, universities and professional schools within 30 miles. Student math scores are 22.7 percent above the state average and reading scores are 16.6 percent above the state average. MONEY also noted that Middletown’s projected job growth over the next five years is 5.5 percent.
Middletown is one of 10 New Jersey towns highlighted by MONEY magazine. This year, MONEY set out to find the nation's top small cities with populations between 50,000 and 300,000. The publication generally alternates between small cities and small towns. Towns are ranked on a series of factors including economy, arts and leisure options, cost of living, income, housing, medical care and school quality.
The other New Jersey towns are Franklin, Piscataway, Clifton, Edison, Gloucester, Hamilton, Hoboken, Union, and Wayne. The township has been recognized by MONEY Magazine as one of the best places to live four times between 2006 and 2014.