By Carla Astudillo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

New Jersey isn't the population magnet it once was, but new Census data shows a handful of thriving towns have kept the state growing in recent years.

The Garden State recently crested above nine million people, growing by 3.6 percent from 2008 to 2017.

But New Jersey's growth is modest compared to the rest of the country. New data shows the state was the 35th fastest growing state in the country over the last decade. The U.S., as a whole, grew about 6.9 percent in the same time frame.

Still, there were some towns and cities in the Garden State where the population boomed in the last decade.

Many of them are in North Jersey, especially Hudson County, where there has been

.

We ranked the top 15 towns that have gained the most residents in raw population along with the top 15 towns that have seen the largest percent gain in population.

About the data: The data compares population totals from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2013-2017 five-year estimates to the 2008-2012 five-year estimates. Towns with a margin of error higher than 15% were eliminated from the ranking.

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15. Harrison, Hudson County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 15,898

Total Population, 2008-2012: 13,683

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +2,215

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14. Paterson, Passaic County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 147,890

Total Population, 2008-2012: 145,655

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +2,235

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13. Clifton, Passaic County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 86,207

Total Population, 2008-2012: 83,926

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +2,281

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12. Secaucus, Hudson County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 19,279

Total Population, 2008-2012: 16,809

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +2,470

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11. North Bergen, Hudson County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 63,438

Total Population, 2008-2012: 60,772

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +2,666

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10. Union City, Hudson County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 69,815

Total Population, 2008-2012: 66,646

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +3,169

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9. West New York, Hudson County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 53,345

Total Population, 2008-2012: 49,816

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +3,529

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8. Bayonne, Hudson County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 66,719

Total Population, 2008-2012: 63,164

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +3,555

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7. Franklin Township, Somerset County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 65,999

Total Population, 2008-2012: 62,189

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +3,810

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6. Hoboken, Hudson County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 54,117

Total Population, 2008-2012: 49,898

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +4,219

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5. Elizabeth, Union County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 129,363

Total Population, 2008-2012: 124,795

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +4,568

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4. Monroe Township, Middlesex County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 43,796

Total Population, 2008-2012: 39,142

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +4,654

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3. Newark, Essex County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 282,803

Total Population, 2008-2012: 276,478

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +6,325

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2. Lakewood Township, Ocean County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 99,467

Total Population, 2008-2012: 91,423

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +8,044

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1. Jersey City, Hudson County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 265,932

Total Population, 2008-2012: 248,435

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +17,497

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15. Brooklawn Borough, Camden County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 2,006

Total Population, 2008-2012: 1,811

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +10.77%

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14. Milford Borough, Hunterdon County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 1,284

Total Population, 2008-2012: 1,154

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +11.27%

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13. Raritan Borough, Somerset County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 7,758

Total Population, 2008-2012: 6,968

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +11.34%

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12. Weehawken, Hudson County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 14,268

Total Population, 2008-2012: 12,764

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +11.78%

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11. Monroe Township, Middlesex County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 43,796

Total Population, 2008-2012: 39,142

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +11.89%

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10. Farmingdale, Monmouth County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 1,470

Total Population, 2008-2012: 1,310

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +12.21%

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9. Elsinboro, Salem County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 1,165

Total Population, 2008-2012: 1,025

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +13.66%

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8. Secaucus, Hudson County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 19,279

Total Population, 2008-2012: 16,809

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +14.69%

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7. Downe Township, Cumberland County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 1,580

Total Population, 2008-2012: 1,374

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +14.99%

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6. Riverdale, Morris County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 4,238

Total Population, 2008-2012: 3,659

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +15.82%

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5. Harrison, Hudson County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 15,898

Total Population, 2008-2012: 13,683

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +16.19%

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4. South Hackensack, Bergen County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 2,743

Total Population, 2008-2012: 2,335

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +17.47%

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3. East Newark, Hudson County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 2,725

Total Population, 2008-2012: 2,297

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +18.63%

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2. Woolwich Township, Gloucester County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 12,172

Total Population, 2008-2012: 10,113

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +20.36%

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1. Englishtown Borough, Monmouth County

Total Population, 2013-2017: 2,131

Total Population, 2008-2012: 1,756

CHANGE FROM 2008-2012: +21.36%

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Oak Meadows in Lakewood. (Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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