Pennington named best NJ town to raise families

PENNINGTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- Pennington Mayor Anthony Persichilli is enjoying the April copy of New Jersey Family magazine which names his borough the best town in the state for families.

"It's fantasyland. It's Mayberry, it really is. It's a very small town. It's only a mile square, 2,750 people. It has everything a small town needs," Persichilli said.

The magazine analyzed data from over 500 municipalities in the state, measuring things such as tax rates, access to highways crime and household income.

It described Pennington as the perfect quaint small-town meets farmland feel with stellar schools, almost nonexistent crime and affordable housing. The number one ranking comes as no surprise to people who live and work here.

"This is a great example. We can walk to school, my kids get to walk to school. They can walk with their friends. We have a great Main Street," Emily Everett said.

"I like that I have a good school," Will Everett said.

"It's a community atmosphere and as far as the police department is concerned, we try to make sure everybody feels safe day and night," Ptl. Novin Thomas of the Pennington Police Department said.

The magazine called Pennington a one horse town in the best possible way.

Along Main Street, with its unique stores, local pride is evident.

"It feels like a nice mix of country and activities, things to do," resident Scott Donofrio said.

"When neighbors really need neighbors and really need support this town can mobilize in a heartbeat," library volunteer Cindy Persichilli said.

"People don't move. We've actually had three houses. We had a small house then we had a big house, now we have a small house," resident Dick Kocses said.

"The people are so nice and everything is friendly," volunteer coordinator Tara Russell said.