A lot needs to be considered if you are raising a family.

Whether families are expanding and moving from an apartment to a house or to a new city altogether, location is extremely important.

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I came across an article from Wallet Hub that listed the best and worst cities in America to raise a family.

I was surprised to see only two New Jersey cities cut, so I dove into Wallet Hub's methodology.

Now, things started to get more precise. The criteria used here are pretty solid.

The findings based on that criteria were, well, shocking.

Coming in at #70:

Jersey City

At first, I was like, huh?

While Jersey City is seeing a bit of a "rebirth," the majority of the city struggles with crime, unemployment, and homelessness.

There is, however, a trendy section of JC that I wish I could afford to live in.

This neighborhood includes high-rise apartments with stunning views of New York City, upscale restaurants, and popular nightclubs.

Private schools are also said to be a significant improvement from the Jersey City public schools.

While Jersey City is never a place I would recommend to someone raising a family, it has the convenience of being a short trip to Manhattan.

If you can afford to live in the better-developed sections, it's not the worst place to be.

READ MORE: This is New Jersey's Most Family-Friendly Town

This one is going to blow your mind. Ranking at #177:

Newark

What?! The fact that "best places to raise a family" and "Newark" are lumped together is unbelievable.

Granted, Newark is at the bottom of this list, but still. Newark?

Would you ever say to a family member or friend who's looking to move to New Jersey,

"Have you looked in Newark?"

I feel bad because the town has so much against it, and despite valiant attempts, it remains a challenging and dangerous place.

These are the best counties in New Jersey to raise a family. Tap 'SEE FULL PAGE' for more.