Most New Jersey residents say their state is a good or excellent place to live

Satisfaction with the quality of life in New Jersey is on the rise, according to the latest Monmouth University poll.

 

Just about two-thirds of the residents surveyed say the Garden State is a good or excellent place to live.

Poll director Patrick Murray says that’s an improvement from the 61 percent rating in September.

“There was a blip in the fall mainly around feelings of safety and security. That went downward,” Murray said. “I think we had some areas of the state where there was just a sense that they weren’t sure what was going on, but it seems to have bounced back, and it’s pretty much on a par where it was most of last year.”

Sixty-two percent of residents say they feel safe in their neighborhoods at night — up from 58 percent in September.

The 61 percent positive evaluation of local schools and 72 percent rating for environmental quality echo previous perceptions.