New rankings show a sharp divide between cities in New Jersey when it comes to raising a family.

A WalletHub study compared more than 180 cities across 45 factors to identify the best places for families in 2026.

Jersey City ranked No. 45 overall out of 182 cities.

The city performed especially well in education and child care, placing 11th in the country.

It also ranked 25th in health and safety.

However, affordability remains a challenge, with Jersey City ranking 148th in that category.

Newark placed near the bottom of the list at No. 177 overall.

The city ranked 179th in affordability and 177th in socio-economics.

The study also highlighted fewer playgrounds per capita, placing Newark among the lowest-ranked cities for outdoor recreation access.

The report evaluated factors such as housing costs, school quality, health care and access to recreation.

Top-ranked cities nationwide include Fremont, California, Overland Park, Kansas, Irvine, California, Plano, Texas and Columbia, Maryland.