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NJNew Jersey rankings

Towns that borrow the most from their library in New Jersey

Ranked by books, movies, e-books and other items the town’s public library lent in a year, per resident. 236 towns with 2,500+ residents.

IMLS Public Libraries Survey, fiscal year 2024

Wanaque
New Jersey · Most library borrowing

Where Wanaque lands: #137 of 236

4.4 per resident books, movies & e-books borrowed a year · Visit Wanaque →

Ocean City 1 Ocean City 31.3 per resident Ocean City Free Public Library Millburn 2 Millburn Essex County 19.7 per resident Millburn Free Public Library Map of Closter 3 Closter 19.7 per resident Closter Public Library
#TownLoans per residentLibraryLoans a year
1 Ocean City Ocean City11,261 people 31.3 per resident Ocean City Free Public Library 351,037
2 Millburn MillburnEssex County · 22,145 people 19.7 per resident Millburn Free Public Library 427,286
3 Map of Closter Closter8,606 people 19.7 per resident Closter Public Library 169,702
4 Princeton Princeton30,756 people 19.2 per resident Princeton Public Library 589,479
5 Map of Montvale Montvale8,901 people 19.2 per resident Montvale Free Public Library 161,600
6 Paramus Paramus26,568 people 19.1 per resident Paramus Public Library 508,906
7 Margate City Margate City5,234 people 17.0 per resident Margate City Public Library 90,617
8 Bernardsville Bernardsville7,916 people 15.7 per resident Bernardsville Public Library 124,021
9 Map of Livingston LivingstonEssex County · 31,488 people 15.5 per resident Ruth L. Rockwood Memorial Library 484,714
10 Map of Glen Ridge Glen Ridge7,943 people 14.6 per resident Glen Ridge Free Public Library 113,572
11 Wyckoff WyckoffBergen County · 17,050 people 14.5 per resident Wyckoff Free Public Library 240,470
12 Haworth Haworth3,363 people 14.4 per resident Haworth Municipal Library 48,087
13 Hillsdale Hillsdale10,144 people 13.7 per resident Hillsdale Free Public Library 138,646
14 Ridgewood Ridgewood26,308 people 13.6 per resident Ridgewood Public Library 353,240
15 Glen Rock Glen Rock12,154 people 13.4 per resident Glen Rock Public Library 163,100
16 Allendale Allendale6,865 people 13.4 per resident Lee Memorial Library 91,835
17 Map of Summit Summit22,705 people 13.2 per resident Summit Free Public Library 299,629
18 Long Hill Long HillMorris County · 8,652 people 13.1 per resident Long Hill Township Free Public Library 112,625
19 Tenafly Tenafly15,319 people 13.0 per resident Tenafly Free Public Library 200,779
20 Midland Park Midland Park7,019 people 12.7 per resident Midland Park Memorial Library 88,866
21 Bernards BernardsSomerset County · 28,114 people 12.6 per resident Bernards Township Library 351,571
22 Map of Upper Saddle River Upper Saddle River8,439 people 12.6 per resident Upper Saddle River Public Library 105,551
23 Map of Harrington Park Harrington Park4,954 people 12.5 per resident Harrington Park Public Library 59,354
24 Moorestown MoorestownBurlington County · 21,548 people 12.4 per resident Moorestown Library 265,410
25 Denville DenvilleMorris County · 17,205 people 12.3 per resident Denville Free Public Library 209,710
26 Mahwah MahwahBergen County · 25,491 people 12.2 per resident Mahwah Free Public Library 310,705
27 Florham Park Florham Park13,564 people 12.1 per resident Florham Park Free Public Library 151,857
28 Mountain Lakes Mountain Lakes4,585 people 11.9 per resident Mountain Lakes Free Public Library 53,429
29 Plainsboro PlainsboroMiddlesex County · 24,167 people 11.7 per resident Plainsboro Free Public Library 282,520
30 Ramsey Ramsey14,805 people 11.7 per resident Ramsey Free Public Library 173,246
31 Old Tappan Old Tappan6,008 people 11.5 per resident Old Tappan Free Public Library 67,789
32 Fair Lawn Fair Lawn35,610 people 11.3 per resident Maurice M. Pine Free Public Library 394,676
33 Sparta SpartaSussex County · 20,077 people 11.1 per resident Sparta Public Library 217,467
34 Oradell Oradell8,235 people 11.1 per resident Oradell Public Library 91,452
35 Roseland Roseland6,268 people 11.1 per resident Roseland Free Public Library 69,702
36 Demarest Demarest4,911 people 11.0 per resident Demarest Public Library Association 54,640
37 Franklin Lakes Franklin Lakes11,084 people 10.8 per resident Franklin Lakes Free Public Library 119,562
38 East Brunswick East BrunswickMiddlesex County · 49,945 people 10.7 per resident East Brunswick Public Library 533,135
39 Spring Lake Spring Lake2,779 people 10.7 per resident Spring Lake Public Library 29,967
40 Mendham Mendham4,973 people 10.4 per resident Mendham Free Public Library 51,679
41 West Caldwell West CaldwellEssex County · 10,995 people 10.3 per resident West Caldwell Public Library 112,948
42 River Vale River ValeBergen County · 10,058 people 10.3 per resident River Vale Public Library 102,520
43 Map of New Providence New Providence13,727 people 10.2 per resident New Providence Memorial Library 139,703
44 Ho-Ho-Kus Ho-Ho-Kus4,270 people 10.2 per resident Worth Pinkham Memorial Library 43,471
45 Fort Lee Fort Lee40,067 people 9.9 per resident Fort Lee Free Public Library 396,855
46 Waldwick Waldwick10,164 people 9.8 per resident Waldwick Public Library 98,113
47 Westfield Westfield31,111 people 9.5 per resident Westfield Memorial Library 293,595
48 Westwood Westwood11,283 people 9.5 per resident Westwood Free Public Library 106,668
49 Kinnelon Kinnelon10,013 people 9.5 per resident Kinnelon Public Library 94,263
50 Montclair MontclairEssex County · 40,341 people 9.4 per resident Montclair Public Library 385,047
51 Cranford CranfordUnion County · 24,074 people 9.4 per resident Cranford Public Library 213,328
52 Montville MontvilleMorris County · 22,876 people 9.4 per resident Montville Township Public Library 210,413
53 Haddonfield Haddonfield12,595 people 9.4 per resident Haddonfield Public Library 118,140
54 Mount Laurel Mount LaurelBurlington County · 46,026 people 9.3 per resident Mount Laurel Library 416,997
55 River Edge River Edge12,091 people 9.2 per resident River Edge Free Public Library 111,277
56 Randolph RandolphMorris County · 26,604 people 9.1 per resident Randolph Township Free Public Library 241,025
57 Cranbury CranburyMiddlesex County · 4,012 people 9.1 per resident Cranbury Public Library 34,963
58 Washington WashingtonMorris County · 18,265 people 9.0 per resident Washington Twp Public Library/Morris 164,595
59 Map of Metuchen Metuchen15,144 people 8.9 per resident Metuchen Public Library 133,547
60 Rutherford Rutherford18,894 people 8.7 per resident Rutherford Free Public Library 163,373
61 Monroe MonroeMiddlesex County · 49,032 people 8.6 per resident Monroe Twp Public Library/Middlesex 416,572
62 Pennington Pennington2,827 people 8.6 per resident Pennington Free Public Library 24,167
63 Washington WashingtonBergen County · 9,323 people 8.5 per resident Washington Twp Public Library/Bergen 78,929
64 Scotch Plains Scotch PlainsUnion County · 24,843 people 8.4 per resident Scotch Plains Public Library 208,599
65 Norwood Norwood5,724 people 8.4 per resident Norwood Public Library 47,106
66 Cresskill Cresskill9,174 people 8.3 per resident Cresskill Public Library 75,722
67 South Brunswick South BrunswickMiddlesex County · 47,137 people 8.2 per resident South Brunswick Public Library 387,199
68 Oakland Oakland12,768 people 8.2 per resident Oakland Public Library 104,760
69 Leonia Leonia9,336 people 8.1 per resident Leonia Public Library 74,966
70 Morris Plains Morris Plains6,315 people 8.1 per resident Morris Plains Library 49,763
71 Madison16,447 people 8.0 per resident Madison Public Library 135,866
72 Pequannock PequannockMorris County · 15,641 people 7.9 per resident Pequannock Township Public Library 122,551
73 Verona VeronaEssex County · 14,545 people 7.8 per resident Verona Free Public Library 112,973
74 Map of Berkeley Heights Berkeley HeightsUnion County · 13,426 people 7.7 per resident Berkeley Heights Free Public Library 101,936
75 Hasbrouck Heights Hasbrouck Heights12,115 people 7.7 per resident Hasbrouck Heights Free Public Library 93,004
76 Park Ridge Park Ridge9,406 people 7.6 per resident Park Ridge Free Public Library 67,179
77 Middletown MiddletownMonmouth County · 66,883 people 7.5 per resident Middletown Township Public Library 499,946
78 Bergenfield Bergenfield28,450 people 7.4 per resident Bergenfield Free Public Library 209,414
79 Ringwood Ringwood11,657 people 7.4 per resident Ringwood Public Library 87,030
80 Bedminster BedminsterSomerset County · 8,283 people 7.4 per resident Bedminster-Far Hills 68,443
81 Maplewood MaplewoodEssex County · 25,613 people 7.3 per resident Maplewood Memorial Library 186,252
82 Parsippany-Troy Hills Parsippany-Troy HillsMorris County · 56,397 people 7.2 per resident Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library 403,744
83 Rockaway RockawayMorris County · 26,189 people 7.2 per resident Rockaway Township Free Public Library 182,794
84 Bogota Bogota9,360 people 7.2 per resident Bogota Public Library 63,271
85 Carlstadt Carlstadt6,378 people 7.2 per resident William E. Dermody Free Public Library 45,926
86 Bradley Beach Bradley Beach4,158 people 7.2 per resident Bradley Beach Public Library 30,699
87 Teaneck TeaneckBergen County · 41,876 people 7.1 per resident Teaneck Public Library 291,374
88 Nutley NutleyEssex County · 30,012 people 7.1 per resident Nutley Free Public Library 215,381
89 Map of Cliffside Park Cliffside Park25,781 people 7.0 per resident Cliffside Park Free Public Library 180,259
90 Cedar Grove Cedar GroveEssex County · 13,475 people 6.9 per resident Cedar Grove Free Public Library 89,211
91 Emerson Emerson7,305 people 6.9 per resident Emerson Public Library 49,968
92 Wayne WaynePassaic County · 53,756 people 6.5 per resident Wayne Public Library 355,530
93 Roxbury RoxburyMorris County · 23,211 people 6.5 per resident Roxbury Public Library 148,652
94 Clark ClarkUnion County · 15,622 people 6.5 per resident Clark Public Library 100,807
95 Maywood Maywood10,093 people 6.5 per resident Maywood Public Library 65,831
96 Harding HardingMorris County · 3,896 people 6.5 per resident Harding Township Library 25,114
97 Highland Park Highland Park15,121 people 6.4 per resident Highland Park Public Library 95,823
98 Dumont Dumont18,279 people 6.3 per resident Dixon Homestead Library 111,786
99 Englewood Englewood29,638 people 6.2 per resident Englewood Free Public Library 182,621
100 New Milford New Milford16,995 people 6.2 per resident New Milford Public Library 104,989
101 Wood-Ridge Wood-Ridge10,218 people 6.2 per resident Wood-Ridge Memorial Library 62,976
102 Mountainside Mountainside7,049 people 6.2 per resident Mountainside Free Public Library 43,840
103 Hawthorne Hawthorne19,628 people 6.1 per resident Louis Bay 2nd Library 119,694
104 Springfield SpringfieldUnion County · 17,171 people 6.1 per resident Springfield Free Public Library 104,796
105 Edgewater Edgewater14,759 people 5.9 per resident Edgewater Free Public Library 84,666
106 Map of Mendham MendhamMorris County · 6,018 people 5.9 per resident Mendham Township Library 35,726
107 Mount Olive Mount OliveMorris County · 29,149 people 5.7 per resident Mount Olive Public Library 164,838
108 West Milford West MilfordPassaic County · 24,705 people 5.7 per resident West Milford Township Library 142,762
109 Brielle Brielle4,956 people 5.7 per resident Brielle Public Library 28,336
110 Edison EdisonMiddlesex County · 108,164 people 5.6 per resident Edison Township Free Public Library 605,187
111 South Plainfield South Plainfield24,473 people 5.6 per resident South Plainfield Free Public Library 137,388
112 Northfield Northfield8,456 people 5.6 per resident Otto Bruyns Public Library 46,921
113 Little Falls Little FallsPassaic County · 14,790 people 5.5 per resident Little Falls Public Library 73,008
114 Jefferson JeffersonMorris County · 20,587 people 5.4 per resident Jefferson Township Public Library 110,793
115 Northvale Northvale4,829 people 5.4 per resident Northvale Public Library 25,730
116 Riverdale Riverdale4,112 people 5.4 per resident Riverdale Public Library 22,131
117 Fanwood Fanwood7,799 people 5.3 per resident Fanwood Memorial Library 41,013
118 Linwood Linwood6,992 people 5.3 per resident Linwood Public Library 36,834
119 North Haledon North Haledon8,778 people 5.0 per resident North Haledon Free Public Library 44,785
120 Stratford Stratford7,018 people 5.0 per resident Stratford Public Library 34,568
121 Washington WashingtonGloucester County · 49,220 people 4.9 per resident Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library 238,679
122 Milltown Milltown7,059 people 4.9 per resident Milltown Public Library 34,257
123 Lambertville Lambertville4,153 people 4.9 per resident Lambertville Free Public Library 20,408
124 Franklin FranklinSomerset County · 68,907 people 4.8 per resident Franklin Twp Public Library/Somerset 325,425
125 West Orange West OrangeEssex County · 48,585 people 4.8 per resident West Orange Free Public Library 233,725
126 Saddle Brook Saddle BrookBergen County · 14,419 people 4.8 per resident Saddle Brook Free Public Library 68,015
127 Map of Ridgefield Park Ridgefield Park13,235 people 4.8 per resident Ridgefield Park Public Library 63,143
128 Clifton Clifton89,379 people 4.7 per resident Clifton Public Library 421,053
129 Lincoln Park Lincoln Park10,957 people 4.7 per resident Lincoln Park Public Library 51,440
130 East Hanover East HanoverMorris County · 11,152 people 4.6 per resident East Hanover Township Free Public Library 51,629
131 East Rutherford East Rutherford10,313 people 4.6 per resident East Rutherford Memorial Library 45,880
132 Cherry Hill Cherry HillCamden County · 76,725 people 4.5 per resident Cherry Hill Free Public Library 338,736
133 Secaucus Secaucus21,778 people 4.5 per resident Secaucus Free Public Library 99,629
134 Beverly Beverly2,514 people 4.5 per resident Beverly Free Library 11,345
135 Palisades Park Palisades Park20,290 people 4.4 per resident Palisades Park Free Public Library 88,386
136 Ridgefield Ridgefield11,498 people 4.4 per resident Ridgefield Free Public Library 50,485
137 Wanaque Wanaque11,206 people 4.4 per resident Wanaque Borough Free Public Library 50,215
138 Butler Butler8,133 people 4.4 per resident Butler Public Library 35,284
139 Hackettstown Hackettstown10,140 people 4.3 per resident Hackettstown Free Public Library 44,304
140 Caldwell Caldwell9,003 people 4.3 per resident Caldwell Free Public Library 39,073
141 Flemington Flemington4,896 people 4.3 per resident Flemington Free Public Library 21,076
142 Hoboken Hoboken58,668 people 4.2 per resident Hoboken Public Library 255,403
143 Red Bank Red Bank12,862 people 4.2 per resident Red Bank Public Library 54,325
144 Pompton Lakes Pompton Lakes11,047 people 4.2 per resident Pompton Lakes Borough Free Public Library 47,111
145 Map of Fairfield FairfieldEssex County · 7,824 people 4.2 per resident Anthony Pio Costa Memorial Library 32,689
146 Hanover HanoverMorris County · 14,769 people 4.1 per resident Whippanong Library/Hanover Township 60,626
147 Mount Arlington Mount Arlington5,935 people 4.1 per resident Mount Arlington Public Library 24,404
148 South Orange Village South Orange VillageEssex County · 18,474 people 4.0 per resident South Orange Public Library 74,702
149 Rockaway Rockaway6,613 people 4.0 per resident Rockaway Borough Free Public Library 26,323
150 Little Silver Little Silver6,105 people 4.0 per resident Little Silver Public Library 24,827
151 Boonton Boonton8,854 people 3.8 per resident Boonton Holmes Public Library 33,605
152 Audubon Audubon8,730 people 3.8 per resident Audubon Free Public Library 33,153
153 Spotswood Spotswood8,171 people 3.7 per resident Spotswood Public Library 30,409
154 Woodbridge WoodbridgeMiddlesex County · 104,355 people 3.6 per resident Woodbridge Public Library 374,885
155 Piscataway PiscatawayMiddlesex County · 61,297 people 3.6 per resident Piscataway Public Library 217,271
156 North Brunswick North BrunswickMiddlesex County · 44,375 people 3.6 per resident North Brunswick Free Public Library 159,290
157 Map of Bloomingdale Bloomingdale7,716 people 3.6 per resident Bloomingdale Free Public Library 28,230
158 Map of Bloomfield BloomfieldEssex County · 53,793 people 3.5 per resident Bloomfield Public Library 185,612
159 Middlesex Middlesex14,645 people 3.4 per resident Middlesex Public Library 50,019
160 Haddon Heights Haddon Heights7,516 people 3.4 per resident Haddon Heights Public Library 25,166
161 Pitman Pitman8,856 people 3.2 per resident Mccowan Memorial Library 27,806
162 Old Bridge Old BridgeMiddlesex County · 68,406 people 3.1 per resident Old Bridge Public Library 208,830
163 Kenilworth Kenilworth8,401 people 3.1 per resident Kenilworth Public Library 26,501
164 Wharton Wharton7,318 people 3.1 per resident Wharton Public Library 22,416
165 Lyndhurst LyndhurstBergen County · 22,463 people 3.0 per resident Lyndhurst Free Public Library 67,492
166 Map of Weehawken WeehawkenHudson County · 17,295 people 3.0 per resident Weehawken Free Public Library 51,031
167 Map of North Arlington North Arlington16,461 people 3.0 per resident North Arlington Public Library 49,205
168 Rochelle Park Rochelle ParkBergen County · 5,869 people 3.0 per resident Rochelle Park Public Library 17,549
169 Totowa Totowa10,959 people 2.9 per resident Dwight D. Eisenhower Library 32,293
170 Keyport Keyport7,171 people 2.9 per resident Keyport Free Public Library 21,144
171 Garwood Garwood4,885 people 2.9 per resident Garwood Free Public Library 12,936
172 Elmwood Park Elmwood Park21,412 people 2.8 per resident Elmwood Park Free Public Library 59,390
173 Dunellen Dunellen7,911 people 2.8 per resident Dunellen Free Public Library 21,078
174 Passaic Passaic70,002 people 2.7 per resident Passaic Public Library 186,986
175 Map of Lodi Lodi26,082 people 2.7 per resident Lodi Memorial Library 70,691
176 Franklin FranklinGloucester County · 16,490 people 2.7 per resident Franklin Twp Public Library/Gloucester 44,280
177 South Amboy South Amboy9,989 people 2.7 per resident Dowdell Library of South Amboy 25,183
178 Raritan Raritan8,368 people 2.7 per resident Raritan Public Library 21,240
179 Belmar Belmar5,869 people 2.7 per resident Belmar Public Library 16,179
180 Hackensack Hackensack46,057 people 2.6 per resident Johnson Free Public Library 119,662
181 Sayreville Sayreville45,838 people 2.6 per resident Sayreville Free Public Library 118,025
182 Woodland Park Woodland Park13,355 people 2.6 per resident Alfred H. Baumann Library/West Paterso 34,850
183 Delanco DelancoBurlington County · 4,872 people 2.6 per resident Delanco Public Library 12,780
184 Long Branch Long Branch32,530 people 2.5 per resident Long Branch Free Public Library 78,784
185 West Deptford West DeptfordGloucester County · 22,416 people 2.4 per resident West Deptford Free Public Library 54,270
186 Wallington Wallington11,889 people 2.4 per resident John F. Kennedy Memorial Library 28,588
187 Map of Union UnionUnion County · 61,071 people 2.3 per resident Union Free Public Library 139,002
188 Monroe MonroeGloucester County · 37,648 people 2.3 per resident Monroe Twp Public Library/Gloucester 85,911
189 Deptford DeptfordGloucester County · 32,263 people 2.3 per resident James H. Johnson Memorial Library 73,063
190 Rahway Rahway30,109 people 2.3 per resident Rahway Public Library 69,239
191 Little Ferry Little Ferry10,996 people 2.2 per resident Little Ferry Free Public Library 23,984
192 Burlington Burlington9,993 people 2.2 per resident Library Company of Burlington 21,036
193 Neptune NeptuneMonmouth County · 28,265 people 2.1 per resident Neptune Township Public Library 59,892
194 Woodbury Woodbury10,042 people 2.1 per resident Woodbury Public Library 20,489
195 Kearny Kearny40,614 people 2.0 per resident Kearny Public Library 84,651
196 South River South River16,124 people 2.0 per resident South River Public Library 31,516
197 Phillipsburg Phillipsburg15,299 people 2.0 per resident Phillipsburg Free Public Library 30,149
198 Berlin Berlin7,539 people 2.0 per resident Marie Fleche Memorial Library 15,221
199 Jersey City Jersey City294,078 people 1.9 per resident Jersey City Free Public Library 549,618
200 North Bergen North BergenHudson County · 61,250 people 1.9 per resident North Bergen Free Public Library 118,271
201 Gloucester City Gloucester City11,509 people 1.9 per resident Gloucester City Library 22,021
202 Hamilton HamiltonMercer County · 92,506 people 1.8 per resident Hamilton Township Free Public Library 169,249
203 Florence FlorenceBurlington County · 12,935 people 1.7 per resident Florence Township Library 22,020
204 Waterford WaterfordCamden County · 10,451 people 1.7 per resident Waterford Township Public Library 17,510
205 Garfield Garfield32,783 people 1.5 per resident Garfield Free Public Library 48,675
206 Map of Jamesburg Jamesburg5,770 people 1.4 per resident Jamesburg Public Library 7,955
207 Asbury Park Asbury Park15,295 people 1.3 per resident Asbury Park Free Public Library 20,251
208 Linden Linden44,192 people 1.2 per resident Linden Free Public Library 52,215
209 Willingboro WillingboroBurlington County · 32,103 people 1.2 per resident Willingboro Public Library 38,427
210 Carteret Carteret25,496 people 1.2 per resident Carteret Free Public Library 29,487
211 Dover Dover18,563 people 1.2 per resident Dover Free Public Library 22,114
212 Fairview Fairview15,099 people 1.2 per resident Fairview Free Public Library 18,010
213 Washington Washington7,334 people 1.1 per resident Washington Public Library 8,025
214 Westville Westville4,310 people 1.1 per resident Westville Public Library 4,633
215 Elizabeth Elizabeth137,302 people 1.0 per resident Elizabeth Free Public Library 136,355
216 Vineland Vineland61,006 people 1.0 per resident Vineland Public Library 61,278
217 Pennsauken PennsaukenCamden County · 37,275 people 1.0 per resident Pennsauken Free Public Library 37,567
218 Hillside HillsideUnion County · 22,349 people 1.0 per resident Hillside Free Public Library 21,819
219 Atlantic City38,632 people 0.9 per resident Atlantic City Free Public Library 34,569
220 Map of Belleville BellevilleEssex County · 38,065 people 0.9 per resident Belleville Public Library 32,606
221 Union City Union City66,463 people 0.8 per resident Union City Public Library 53,966
222 Plainfield Plainfield55,236 people 0.8 per resident Plainfield Free Public Library 41,683
223 Millville Millville27,511 people 0.8 per resident Millville Public Library 23,131
224 New Brunswick New Brunswick56,345 people 0.7 per resident New Brunswick Free Public Library 40,722
225 East Orange East Orange70,090 people 0.6 per resident East Orange Public Library 42,306
226 Roselle Roselle22,646 people 0.6 per resident Roselle Free Public Library 14,723
227 Riverside RiversideBurlington County · 8,055 people 0.5 per resident Riverside Public Library 4,270
228 Newark Newark310,178 people 0.4 per resident Newark Public Library 114,999
229 Bayonne Bayonne71,553 people 0.4 per resident Bayonne Free Public Library 30,175
230 City of Orange City of OrangeEssex County · 34,281 people 0.4 per resident The Orange Public Library 12,907
231 Paterson Paterson158,735 people 0.3 per resident Paterson Free Public Library 49,444
232 Trenton Trenton90,338 people 0.3 per resident Trenton Free Public Library 29,348
233 Paulsboro Paulsboro6,248 people 0.3 per resident Gill Memorial Library 1,687
234 Map of Irvington IrvingtonEssex County · 60,867 people 0.2 per resident Irvington Public Library 13,852
235 Bridgeton Bridgeton27,001 people 0.2 per resident Bridgeton Free Public Library 4,249
236 Freehold Freehold12,507 people 0.2 per resident Freehold Public Library 2,230

How this ranking works

We rank every town by books, movies, e-books and other items the town’s public library lent in a year, per resident. The highest figure ranks #1. Each library reports its own yearly numbers to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (fiscal year 2024), and each town’s Library page shows how it compares with libraries of a similar size nationwide.

A town is ranked only when its library system serves that town alone, and the library’s own count of the people it serves is within 20% of the town’s population. Towns served by a county or regional system, or sharing a library with a neighbor, can’t be credited with the numbers, so they aren’t ranked. Libraries that didn’t respond to the survey aren’t ranked either. Vacation towns can rank high because summer residents and visitors use the library too.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Libraries: IMLS Public Libraries Survey. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

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