Short Hills 67 Good
Short Hills Livability #323 ranked city in New Jersey#10,157 ranked city in the USARanks better than 65% of areas
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Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Short Hills

PROS
  • Crime Crime

    This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.

  • Employment Employment

    With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.

  • Schools Schools

    The high score in the schools category can be attributed to outstanding test scores, elevated graduation rates and the convenient placement of elementary and high schools in this area.

  • Ratings Ratings

    According to recent surveys and polls, locals had excellent ratings for walkability to nearby amenities, safety, access to public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Commute Commute

    Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    This area is known for its high cost of living, which means you should anticipate higher costs for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries, and health care.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.

What's it like Living in Short Hills?

Short Hills, New Jersey is a mid-sized city with a population of 14,190 people. 77% of the people in Short Hills (over the age of 15) are married and 65% have kids under the age of eighteen. Knowing that, it’s safe to say that this area could be a great place for other families to lay down roots. Long, unnecessary commutes can be both frustrating and inconvenient when heading to work. Nationwide, the average one-way commute time takes 26 minutes, but regrettably, residing in Short Hills entails a longer-than-average one-way commute time, averaging 46 minutes.

Without the right tools, relocating to any new city can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Short Hills, New Jersey could be a fulfilling experience for anyone who puts in the time to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. To help you find the best places to live in and around Short Hills, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, commute, education, employment and more.

Short Hills has a livability score of 67/100 and is ranked #312 in New Jersey and #9,352 in the USA. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Short Hills has higher than average scores for the following: crime (A+), education (A+) and housing (B-). Short Hills does not fare well for the following: amenities (F). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

Test scores can be a good way to measure a school's academic performance and the proficiency of its students. They can be an important metric in deciding if the local area schools can provide a solid educational system for children. The schools in Short Hills have an average test score of 83%, which is well above the US average.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Short Hills can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Short Hills is actually affordable. The median home price for Short Hills homes is $2,454,920, which is 341.9% higher than the New Jersey average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Short Hills, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 6.5, which is 27.5% higher than the New Jersey average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Short Hills

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Compare Short Hills, NJ Livability

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      Short Hills transportation information

      Statistic Short Hills New Jersey National
      Average one way commute46min31min26min
      Workers who drive to work42.1%71.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool1.7%8.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit31.5%11.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.2%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.9%3.0%2.8%
      Working from home23.2%4.1%4.6%
      Source: The Short Hills, NJ data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.