By Jeff Goldman/The Star-Ledger

January 21, 2014 at 10:02 AM

New Jersey's safest community touches the state's border with New York.

That's according to a ranking published by security organization SafeWise, which has determined Mahwah is the Garden State's safest place.

Mahwah, a township of about 26,000 in northern Bergen County, edged Sparta in Sussex County for top honors.

SafeWise determined its rankings by combining 2011 FBI crime data with other factors such as unique safety initiatives and security programs, the company said in a release.

A municipality must have a population of at least 15,000 to qualify for the list.

SafeWise said it was impressed with the Mahwah police's Stay Connected app in which citizens can report zoning violations, service requests and other concerns. Mahwah police didn't report any murders, rapes, robberies or arson in 2011.

Two other Bergen communities also made SafeWise's top 10: No. 6 Dumont and No. 8 Bergenfield.

Sparta got high marks for its low poverty rate (1.5 percent). Sparta cops reported fewer than 20 burglaries in 2011.

"From relaxed rural countrysides to fast-paced city living, the 50 safest communities in New Jersey share one critical, crime stopping characteristic: community cohesiveness" SafeWise security analyst Alexia Chianis said.

Here is SafeWise's Top 50:
1. Mahwah (Bergen)
2. Sparta (Sussex)
3. Warren (Somerset)
4. Washington (Morris)
5. Bernards (Somerset)
6. Dumont (Bergen)
7. Hopatcong (Sussex)
8. Bergenfield (Bergen)
9. Madison (Morris)
10. Plainsboro (Middlesex)
11. New Milford (Bergen)
12. Montgomery (Somerset)
13. Wyckoff (Bergen)
14. Monroe (Middlesex)
15. Ridgewood (Bergen)
16. Readington (Hunterdon)
17. Hopewell Township (Mercer)
18. Morris Township (Morris)
19. Hillsborough (Somerset)
20. Montville (Morris)
21. Randolph (Morris)
22. Raritan Township (Hunterdon)
23. Cliffside Park (Bergen)
24. Mount Olive (Morris)
25. Manchester (Ocean)
26. Fort Lee (Bergen)
27. Princeton (Mercer)
28. Marlboro (Monmouth)
29. East Windsor (Mercer)
30. Jefferson (Morris)
31. Palisades Park (Bergen)
32. Manalapan (Monmouth)
33. Scotch Plains (Union)
34. Cranford (Union)
35. Denville (Morris)
36. Westfield (Union)
37. Parsippany (Morris)
38. Barnegat (Ocean)
39. Pequannock (Morris)
40. Nutley (Essex)
41. South Brunswick (Middlesex)
42. Roxbury (Morris)
43. West Milford (Passaic)
44. Summit (Union)
45. Lakewood (Ocean)
46. Fair Lawn (Bergen)
47. Middletown (Monmouth)
48. Medford (Burlington)
49. Piscataway (Middlesex)
50. Hazlet (Monmouth)