We're coming up on the time of year when people start venturing out to find new homes.

There's a lot that needs to be considered, especially if you are raising a family.

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Whether families are spreading their wings and going from an apartment to a house, or moving to a new city altogether, location is extremely important.

I came across an article from Wallet Hub that listed the best and worst cities in America to raise a family.

I was surprised to see only two New Jersey cities make the cut, so I dove into Wallet Hub's methodology.

Now things started to get clearer. The criteria used here are pretty solid.

The findings based on that criteria were, well, shocking.

Coming in at #70:

Jersey City

At first, I was like, huh? While Jersey City is seeing a bit of a "rebirth," the majority of the city struggles with crime, unemployment, and homelessness.

There is, however, a trendy section of JC that I wish I could afford to live in. This neighborhood includes high-rise apartments with stunning views of New York City, upscale restaurants, and popular nightclubs.

There are also private schools that are said to be a big improvement from the Jersey City public schools.

While Jersey City is never a place that I would recommend to someone raising a family, it does have the convenience of being a short trip to Manhattan. If you can afford to live in the better-developed sections, it's not the worst place to be.

This one is going to blow your mind. Ranking at #177:

Newark

What?! The fact that "best places to raise a family" and "Newark" are lumped together is unbelievable.

Granted, Newark is at the bottom of this list, but still. Newark?

Would you ever say to a family member or friend that's looking to move to New Jersey, "have you looked in Newark?"

I feel bad because the town has so much against it, and despite valiant tries, it still remains a tough, and dangerous place to be.

Speaking of dangerous, here are the New Jersey towns that experts say you should stay away from.