There are no concrete lines that dictate whether one county is located in the North or South in New Jersey. Sometimes, our state is only vaguely divided into 3 parts: Central, Northern, and Southern– but even then, many do not consider Central Jersey to be a valid region. 

A survey taken in 2015 by nj.com wanted to see how New Jerseyans would classify North and South, and the survey found that most people do consider a central region to be relevant. Many surveyees agreed that Mercer, Middlesex, and Monmouth County are found in Central Jersey. However, nj.com also found that people disagree greatly on where certain townships lie in New Jersey.

Since it is difficult to truly determine where the boundaries may lie between North, South, and Central Jersey, we took a survey of over 70 students at East to gauge some opinions. The survey mainly featured questions that depicted an interpretation of New Jersey color coded from North, Central, and South. Surveyees had to answer on a scale from 1 to 5 on how much they agree with that given interpretation. The one that was agreed upon the most (62.5% of respondents) was an interpretation that only featured North and South Jersey, with no Central Jersey area. If respondents did not agree with any interpretations given in the survey, they could answer a question asking them to classify certain counties as North, South, or Central, or as in multiple categories if they were unsure. 

Around half of the respondents answered this question, and from it some interesting facts emerge. Mercer County and Monmouth County, two counties found in the middle of the state, had no category with which most respondents could agree on. Monmouth County was practically split down the middle between central, northern, and southern; and Mercer County was split between northern and central. In general, respondents would mostly agree that counties located at the two extremes of the state were either in the North or South, but collective agreement on one geographical category slipped as the counties were more toward the middle of the state.  

Perhaps more intriguing are respondent’s beliefs on whether a Central Jersey is geographically relevant. The topic is also split down the middle, with 55.6% of respondents saying that they do not believe in Central Jersey. This data contradicts what was found in the nj.com survey, but it seems that some respondents did not uphold this choice when answering the aforementioned question of which counties go where. 7 respondents that chose ‘no’ for the question about a belief in Central Jersey classified some counties as Central Jersey anyway, and 1 respondent that chose ‘yes’ classified counties as either in the North or South. These contradictions would imply that most East students actually do believe in Central Jersey. Nevertheless, the issue is clearly disputed, with the majority being on either side. 

When asked what respondents consider the differences between North and South Jersey to be, a large number cited cultural reasons– especially the difference between pork roll and Taylor ham. Many also said that North Jersey generally has more associations with New York, while South Jersey has more with Philadelphia. A large majority (at least over 65%) said that cultural differences coincided with geographical differences.

Overall, while the topic of Central Jersey could be its own collection of stories, there is general consensus of what defines North and South in New Jersey. The differences are mostly cultural and geographical, and East students could relatively agree that one county was in the North or in the South, except for Monmouth and Mercer County. The rest of the package will delve deeper into these cultural differences between the two regions, as well as other notable differences.

South Jersey has no shortage of delicious restaurants offering every food imaginable, but one food stands out from the rest: pizza. Everyone has a favorite local pizza shop in a shopping center or down the street and thinks they have found the best pizza. I visited three pizza places to sample their delicious food and learn what makes their restaurant special and the best in the area.

Lillo’s Tomato Pies

My first stop was Lillo’s Tomato Pies, a slightly out-of-the-way restaurant in Hainesport, a 20 minute ride north down 295, but worth the drive. Lillo’s has only been open for 3 years but has developed a reputation for serving delicious Trenton tomato pies and cheesesteaks. When I arrived, the parking lot was packed, every table was filled, and the restaurant practically had a line of people out the door waiting in line for freshly prepared food. The friendly staff created a welcoming atmosphere and there is music playing in the background that adds a fun vibe to the restaurant. Lillo, one of the business owners, recommended tomato pie and a cheesesteak. After a 10 minute wait, I was treated to piping hot food straight out of the oven. The pizza had a thin crust and yummy sauce. The 16 inch cheesesteak was also meant to be shared and provides a good bang for your buck and plenty of delicious leftovers. The pizza from Lillo’s is a Trenton style tomato pie which means that it is thin crust, well done, with the cheese put on first before the sauce. While Lillo’s is a newcomer to South Jersey, they already have a loyal following and love their community. What makes the restaurant so successful is the customer experience. 

“Treating customers like they are a part of our family, we don’t look at them as transactions; we look at them like we are welcoming them to our home,” said Lillo. 

Insider tip: Bring a few friends along because the portions are large.

The address for Lillo’s Tomato Pies is 2503 Marne Hwy, Hainesport, NJ.

Vito’s Pizza

My next stop was Vito’s Pizza, an iconic Cherry Hill pizza restaurant conveniently located at the corner of Haddonfield-Berlin Road and Browning Lane. Vito’s is close to home, has a spacious and comfortable dining room, and greets customers with a warm welcome. It is not surprising that Vito’s has been in business for more than 45 years. The extensive menu and the front counter showcase a standout display of pizza options. They serve all types of pizza, which ranges from Sicilian to Grandma Pie, and standard cheese if that is what you want. Vito’s is the kind of place where everyone feels welcome. I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Nicole, the manager. She explained that the pizza is influenced by New York style pizza, but what makes it stand out is the high quality of the ingredients. The great taste is directly tied to using the freshest and best products, allowing them to serve great food. Their standard cheese pizza had a perfect New York style thin and foldable crust with the right balance of sauce. I also enjoyed a fresh, hot batch of buttery garlic knots. Vito’s has a friendly and warm environment with many seating options. It is a perfect place for East students to gather and enjoy a meal. The staff treats customers with genuine kindness and wants them to sit, relax, and enjoy their food. 

“I tend to treat everybody like they’re family; I have always done that,” said Nicole. 

Insider tip: You cannot go wrong sampling a variety of slices from the abundant display case while you enjoy a meal with friends.

The address for Vito’s Pizza is 1500 Haddonfield-Berlin Rd Cherry Hill, NJ.

Johnny Longhots

The last stop on my pizza tour was Johnny Longhots, a small but mighty strip mall pizza shop located in Voorhees, but just a short three turn drive from East. When you first walk in, you are treated to a fun and spirited display of iconic Philadelphia sports memorabilia, murals, and photos that showcase Philadelphia’s influence on the restaurant. There is no question about which sports jersey the fans wear when they stop in to buy pizza for the game. You can feel the Philly pride and almost hear the chant “E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles” while devouring a fresh, hot slice of pizza at Johnny Longhots. I tried a vodka pizza with mozzarella sauce and finished the meal with a cannoli. The vodka sauce was an excellent choice for pizza. The cannoli was also satisfying and hit the spot for dessert. If you are looking for a fun place to sit down with friends and get psyched for the big game, this is your place. I talked to Darbin, one of the owners who attributes the restaurant’s success to its ingredients. 

“My secret to success is the pizza ingredients; a nice recipe,” said Darbin. 

Insider tip: If you are looking for a place with a lively vibe and a good value, stop in for a cheesesteak on a Tuesday, and they will give you free fries.  

The address for Johnny Longhots is 200 White Horse Rd Unit 12, Voorhees, NJ.

The entire state of New Jersey is home to plenty of delectable restaurants, no matter the region. While South Jersey is most known for its pizza and Philly cheesesteaks, I wanted to see what North Jersey has to offer and how their food compares to the localities we find here, in South Jersey. I visited two places in Northern Jersey: Old Man Rafferty’s in New Brunswick, and Teresa’s Pizza and Wine Bar in Princeton to find out more. 

Old Man Rafferty’s

Located in the Arts & Business District of New Brunswick, on the outskirts of the Rutgers University campus, Old Man Rafferty’s sits comfortably on Albany Street. Upon entering, I was immediately delighted with the ambience and decor of the establishment. The whole place has the air of an old Revolutionary parlor, with vintage photographs mounted to the wall, a bookshelf by the seating closest to the windows, and a raised section for the bar and booths. Once my family and I took our seats, service was quick and brought our food in a timely manner. First, we ordered Traditional Nachos and Philly Cheese Steak Egg Rolls. The Egg Rolls were fantastic. While the rolls themselves are not a concept unique to the North, Rafferty’s take on it presented an efficient yet all-encompassing bite, together with some melted cheese sauce on the side. You may not get as much grease as you would from a larger cheesesteak in Philly, but nonetheless this northern interpretation hit the mark. The mound of Traditional Nachos was equally delicious; the chips were nicely crisped and provided for a good base that would accompany the tangy crema fresca, and fresh salsa. For entree, I ordered a Sloppy Joe. The Sloppy Joe I ordered reminded me exactly of the Franklin Avenue sandwich at Radin’s Delicatessen in Cherry Hill. The only real difference was the much softer bread that almost gave way under the weight of the corned beef and turkey breast contained within. There was still that excellent coleslaw and Russian dressing combo that provided for a great contrast with the meat. There were also still giant proportions; Radin’s Delicatessen gave me two Franklin Avenues, while Old Man Rafferty’s gave me three Sloppy Joes. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed what Old Man Rafferty’s had to offer, whether it was similar to South Jersey food or not.  

Address – 106 Albany St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Teresa’s Pizza and Wine Bar

Teresa’s Pizza and Wine Bar is a quaint restaurant, located on the streets surrounding Palmer Square in Princeton. Coincidentally, the day me and my family visited Teresa’s, Palmer Square was hosting a small rock music concert that certainly set an inviting atmosphere. Teresa’s offers mainly Italian food, something that can be commonly found all throughout New Jersey. Teresa’s is decorated in a modern manner, with some rustic brick pillars found throughout the interior. Plastered on the windows of the storefront are “caffe” but the interior seemed more like a cross between a pizzeria and a café. Similar to Rafferty’s, Teresa’s had photos mounted on the walls– this time portraits of famous celebrities of a bygone era. For starters, my family and I ordered Arancini or rice balls. The rice balls were good– they were crispy in texture on the outside, and soft and gooey on the inside. We also ordered two pizzas: Margherita Pizza and Perfetta Pizza, which is a pizza with arugula, Prosciutto di Parma, and mozzarella. The pizzas were serviceable, albeit the Perfetta Pizza had a flawed texture. The pizzas served at Teresa’s are similar to New York style, with a very thin crust. The Perfetta Pizza had an edge that was unfortunately full of large air pockets, making the crust tough to eat through and rather dry. Still, the Margherita Pizza’s melted mozzarella and tomato sauce were done well enough to remedy the Perfetta Pizza’s issues. For dessert, we got a Chocolate Cake, and a Cannoli. The Chocolate Cake was flourless– a great decision considering how airy and mousse-like the cake became because of this. The sweetness of the chocolate came through nicely with the whipped cream served on the side. The Cannoli was good too; the shell had the right amount of hardness to it, although the ricotta cream was lacking some chocolate chips to augment its flavor. Overall, Teresa’s was an enjoyable experience, with it costing a little more than Rafferty’s in New Brunswick for a comparable amount of food. 

Address – 23 Palmer Sq E, Princeton, NJ 08542

Of the four most popular sports in the United States- American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey- only 3 professional sports teams have a home in New Jersey. In the NFL (National Football League), MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is home to both the New York Jets and New York Giants. In the NHL (National Hockey League), the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey hosts the New Jersey Devils. It would make sense to conclude that most sports fans in New Jersey would root for these teams. However, those of us lucky enough to be citizens of this state know that could not be further from the truth.

Many citizens of New Jersey live in close proximity to one of two major American cities:  Philadelphia or New York City. While New Jersey has unique culture itself, South Jersey culture is clearly influenced by Philadelphia and North Jersey is clearly influenced by New York City. When considering what professional teams sports fans in New Jersey root for, this is also true. For those of us in South Jersey, the Philadelphia Eagles, Flyers, Sixers and Phillies are immensely popular. In North Jersey, the New York Mets, Yankees, Rangers, Jets, Kincks, Nets and Giants enjoy a similar level of popularity. The Jersey Devils, the only major professional sports team in New Jersey, is supported more in North Jersey, along with the Rangers. 

These distinctions are not cut and dry. Family tradition and personal preference are as much of a factor in what team a fan of a sport supports as regional divides. However, seeing South Jersey as mostly fans of Philadelphia sports teams and North Jersey as mostly fans of New York City sports teams can be a helpful distinction.

Because these two cities are so close, many of these teams have exciting rivalries between them. Since New Jersey is split down the middle in terms of sports loyalty, New Jersey citizens can also be involved. Two major Philadelphia-New York City rivalries are between the New York Mets and Phillies and the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants.

96 miles separates MetLife Stadium, the home of the New York Giants, and Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the Philadelphia Eagles. From their first football game against each other in 1933 to a few weeks ago, the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants had a storied history. In total, the Eagles and Giants have played 184 games against each other, with the Eagles winning 95 of those contests. As both the Giants and Eagles are in the same division, the NFC East, the Eagles have a more intensified rivalry with the Giants than with the other New York City football team, the AFC East’s New York Jets.

The same story is true for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies in baseball. Both of these teams are in the same division, the National League East, and have met 1,085 times with the Phillies winning 28 more times than the Mets. The New York Yankees are in the American League East, and as a result, they do not have a pronounced rivalry with the Phillies.

Even though South Jersey and North Jersey have different sports team preferences, we are still one state. New Jersey, like all states in the US, has people from across the country and world, so it is an oversimplification to say that all people in South Jersey like Philadelphia teams and all people from North Jersey like New York Teams. While there may be rivalries between the two sports teams, both New York fans and Philadelphia can come together for the love of sports. And in football, both fans of the Eagles and Giants can unite to hate the Cowboys.

While North and South Jersey students attend school in the same state, there are several differences and similarities that shape their educational experiences. 

Katherine Lee, a 2023 graduate and currently a student at Princeton University, shares her experience at Fort Lee High School in Bergen County. Although the school does not report class rank to prevent unnecessary competition, Lee explained that Fort Lee High School’s environment was competitive regardless. 

In Fort Lee High School, where there is a large Asian population, with 40.9% of the student body being made up of Asian students, the cultural impact on education is evident. Specifically, Lee said that a large proportion of students attended hagwon, also known as cram schools, which are Korean private academies that offer supplemental education outside of school. These institutions focus on a range of subjects, including mathematics, English, and science, covering material that has not been taught in school yet to get them ahead of their peers, which not only helps them excel academically but also frees up time to participate in extracurricular activities without the burden and stress of falling behind on challenging classes. However, the prevalence of hagwon fosters a competitive environment and those who may not be able to afford cram school feel as though they are at a disadvantage.

“There is a high Asian American make-up of our student body & lots of students receive tutoring or attend hagwon. It may not be an overtly competitive school on paper, but it definitely has a competitive air,” Lee explained, “as someone who did not have the opportunity to attend hagwon and was never at the top of the class and had to work hard independently both inside and outside of school hours.” 

Among students, a sense of competitiveness will almost always exist, especially during college application season, and this feeling is not specific to any one region in New Jersey. Hannah Yang, who graduated from Chatham High School in 2024 and currently attends Duke University, shared, “Most students are genuinely happy for each other’s success [at Chatham High School], so I believe that competitiveness often stems from natural struggles with comparison and self-esteem.”

Additionally, AP course availability does not vary much by region, with schools located in North, Central, and South Jersey offering a substantial number of options. For example, Cherry Hill East and Lenape High School offer around 30 AP courses, while in North Jersey, Chatham High School provides 31 AP courses and Montgomery High School offers 21. 

The AP enrollment and exam pass rates, however, vary significantly by school but not particularly by region. Approximately 50% of Cherry Hill East students, 49% of Fort Lee students, and 73% of Chatham students are enrolled in AP courses. However, when it comes to passing at least one AP exam, about 41% of East and 40% of Fort Lee students pass, while Chatham shows a significantly higher pass rate of 66%. This disparity suggests AP enrollment and exam success are shaped less by regional factors and more by each school’s unique academic environment, regardless of where the school is located. 

At Chatham High School in Morris County, Yang explained that “students can join clubs for anything from cultural interests to homeless outreach to chess.” When asked about extracurricular activities at Fort Lee High School, Lee listed some of the popular options at her high school, which include Student Council, Science League, Key Club, Speech and Debate, theater, marching band, and sports like volleyball, track, and football. 

Both North and South Jersey schools provide students with a wide variety of extracurricular options, encouraging students to explore interests outside of academics, an opportunity that should never be limited to a certain region. Like Chatham and Fort Lee, East also offers clubs for various interests, from business-focused groups to service-oriented clubs. This variety in extracurricular activities demonstrates the opportunities for student involvement that exist across New Jersey, regardless of regional distinctions commonly attributed to North and South Jersey.

Despite being in the same state, students in North and South Jersey have distinct yet similar educational experiences. Ultimately, while factors like AP enrollment and exam pass rates vary by school, they reflect the academic environments of each school rather than regional differences. 

Although it’s one of the United States’ smaller states with 8,723 square miles of total area, New Jersey hails as the sixth most diverse state (tied with New York), according to the U.S. News and World Report. Partly due to many suburbs placed near major cities, namely Philadelphia and New York City, the diversity found in NJ is not surprising. However, there is a stark contrast between the demographics of “North” Jersey and “South” Jersey – providing implications for the cultural nuances of these areas. The designations of these parts of New Jersey are rather a topic of colloquialism rather than official.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, North Jersey retains a population of 3.86 million. While the exact counties that form North Jersey are questioned, it typically includes Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren. Its position in the greater New York City Metropolitan area bolsters its high economic output. The cities of Newark, Paterson and Elizabeth are New Jersey’s most populous. Bergen county serves as the most populous county. Racial demographic of all seven counties, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, primarily includes 66.8% White, 18.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% African American, and 6.6% Asian.

On the other hand, South Jersey displays a different demographic case, with a much smaller population compared to North Jersey of 1.9 million. Similar to North Jersey, the counties that consist of South Jersey are often contested, but typically include Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem, with Camden being the most populated. Some include Ocean County as well. Its main cities include Camden and Atlantic City. Burlington, Camden and Gloucester consist of the Camden and Philadelphia metropolitan area, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In terms of racial demographics, South Jersey and North Jersey do contain similar statistics: 65.3% White, 15.9% Black, 11.6% Hispanic or Latino, 4.2% Asian primarily.

While both areas contain similar racial demographics, a difference appears in the areas certain demographics reside in according to the 2020 U.S. Census. In North Jersey, the majority of New Jersey’s “White Alone” (individuals who identify as only White, including Hispanic or Latino) population live in the Northwest, specifically in Hunterdon, Warren and Sussex. Whereas in South Jersey, the majority live in much more dispersed areas in Gloucester, Cape May, and Ocean County. New Jersey’s “Asian Alone” (individuals who identify as only Asian, including Hispanic or Latino) population spikes in Northeast Jersey compared to South Jersey with Middlesex, Somerset, Mercer, Morris and Bergen. The “Black Alone” (individuals who identify as only Black, including Hispanic or Latino) population display much more distribution. In North Jersey, Essex County and Union County carry a peak in population in all of New Jersey, while South Jersey’s counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Cumberland, and Camden each consist of 15%-20% individually.

These demographic distributions of North and South Jersey deliver implications for the economic and cultural values of New Jersey. Regardless of these differences, New Jersey remains united by its diversity.

There are various comprehensive measures to see how well an economy is doing. The most common measure is gross domestic product, or GDP. GDP considers the total output bought by final consumers generated within a place, like a county. Since inflation affects GDP’s monetary value, adjustments to inflation are necessary to find the ‘real’ GDP. The New Jersey Regional Analysis Project (NJREAP) uses dollars from 2017 to recalculate the ‘true’ values of any economic measure, such as GDP, if affected by inflation. According to the NJREAP, by this metric, the wealthiest county is Bergen County in the North. However, the issue with only looking at GDP is that it may misrepresent the quality of life or distribution of wealth in a given area, and the underlying causes. For instance, the US is often cited as the wealthiest nation in the world due to its GDP, but the US still has intense economic disparities between states and localities. 

Therefore, considering more measures can lead us to several trends. Total personal income is the amount of money employed people make from their salaries and wages. It is a good indicator of what economists call “purchasing power”. The NJREAP lists Bergen County as having the highest real total personal income in 2022. Total personal income is directly correlated with GDP but does not translate entirely to the income each individual earns on average, or per capita income (PCI). While Bergen has the highest GDP and total personal income of any other county in New Jersey, it only ranks 4th for PCI. Hunterdon, Somerset, and Morris County all have higher PCIs, which are counties found towards the middle of the state; Morris County had the highest real PCI of $111,597 in 2022. 

Employment is also an important factor in looking at the wealth of an economy. More jobs are directly correlated to more revenue generated (GDP and total personal income). For this reason, Bergen County ranks first again with 693,756 jobs in 2022 according to the NJREAP. The NJREAP gets their data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) which estimates the number of full-time and part-time employees. It is important to note that the BEA counts all jobs that may be held by a single person; they count jobs, not people, for their employment estimates. 

All of the counties listed previously have either been from North or Central Jersey. In fact, many northern counties outrank the southern counties in terms of real GDP, real total personal income, and total employment. Morris County, Essex County, Hudson County, and Middlesex County consistently rank as accruing the most wealth or jobs, after Bergen County. Union, Monmouth, Hudson, and Somerset County outrank southern counties in some measures as well. Still, southern counties are not necessarily underperforming. All of New Jersey’s counties are constantly growing aspects of their economies; Ocean County, in the South, has the most total personal income and employment growth using NJREAP’s analysis of data adjusted for inflation from 1969 to 2022. 

Each New Jersey county also has specialized industries. According to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJLWD), southern counties and central counties specialize more in health care and leisure and hospitality, while northern counties specialize more in transportation, distribution, logistics, retail, and finance. The life sciences sector in New Jersey is one of the largest in the nation and is concentrated predominantly in the counties bordering New York City and Philadelphia. The same trend continues for the food manufacturing sector, which the NJLWD describes as the fastest growing part of the manufacturing sector. Additionally, New Jersey has seen a rise in breweries all throughout the state; the 15 breweries in 2014 has increased to 106 in 2022. 

New Jersey’s economy is different county-to-county. A county that might rank well in various economic measures currently might not have grown much from 50 years ago. While it may be easy to gravitate toward looking at only one economic measure at a time to determine which county is wealthiest– and whether it is in the North or in the South– there are many, many factors and economic measures to consider, some not included in this article. Thus, it is truly difficult to determine which county is solely richest.