New Jersey Cities Close to NYC | Top Cities in New Jersey Closest to NYC
New Jersey’s proximity to New York City has offered incredible opportunities to Garden State residents for many years. Whether it be for work or fun, you can easily access the Big Apple from many of New Jersey’s best cities. With so many options, it can be hard to pick the best cities in New Jersey that are closest to NYC.
The New Jersey cities close to NYC are Bayonne, Hoboken, Jersey City, and Newark. Secaucus, Fort Lee, and Edgewater also offer short drives and public transportation options to reach Manhattan. Other New Jersey suburbs in the NYC metropolitan area include Montclair, Teaneck, and Maplewood. Each of these cities has a reasonable cost of living and a relatively low crime rate.
At Optimum Moving, we frequently move our customers between New Jersey and New York City. This gives us a great perspective on what makes a suburb great, between commute times, cost of living, and job opportunities. Follow along as we explore the best New Jersey cities close to NYC.
10 Best New Jersey Cities Near NYC
1. Bayonne
Just under 10 miles from NYC, Bayonne, New Jersey is a constantly growing suburb in the New York Metropolitan area. Many Bayonne residents work in NYC, but Bayonne has many promising jobs. For example, Bayonne boasts many retail, distribution, and manufacturing jobs.
The median household income in Bayonne currently sits at $79,363 per year. While some of that data comes from Bayonne residents who work locally, many commute to NYC. You can reach Midtown Manhattan from Bayonne in roughly 40 minutes.
That is however unless you hit the infamous NYC rush hour traffic. Otherwise, it typically only takes an hour to reach NYC from Bayonne via public transportation.
2. Hoboken
Hoboken is home to some of the best views of New York City that you can find in New Jersey. It’s the perfect New Jersey suburb for people who work in NYC, especially if you work in Midtown Manhattan. You can reach Midtown Manhattan in just 26 minutes by car if traffic isn’t bad.
The commute is even faster if you take the subway, which takes as little as 13 minutes. Hoboken offers an even mix of apartments, condos, and homes for sale and rent. As experienced Hoboken movers, we have seen firsthand how welcoming this exciting suburb is.
Relatively affluent, the median household income in Hoboken is $168,137. While NYC looms large over Hoboken, this suburb has plenty of entertainment options to offer. Hoboken has many great restaurants, bars, clubs, and community amenities to choose from.
3. Jersey City
Jersey City is the second most populous city in New Jersey and its proximity to NYC is a major advantage. Only 4 miles from Midtown Manhattan, Jersey City offers one of the quickest commutes to NYC in New Jersey. This is equally advantageous whether you work in NYC or simply visit the big city for fun.
Many bus and train routes also run from Jersey City to NYC throughout the day. The cost of living in Jersey City is much cheaper than in NYC. That makes Jersey City the perfect choice for young professionals and families looking to avoid inflated living costs.
We handle both long-distance and local Jersey City moves within Hudson County and NYC. Easy to navigate, Jersey City is a great place to live whether you own a car or not.
4. Newark
Roughly 10.4 miles from NYC, Newark offers a relatively stress-free commute to the Big Apple. Not only is Newark the second biggest city in the NYC area, but it is also the most populous city in New Jersey. Newark boasts a population of 311,549 as of the most recent census.
The proximity to New York City makes it easy to commute to work in the Big Apple from Newark. For example, you can reach Midtown Manhattan from Newark in as little as 30 minutes by car. Granted, public transportation can add another 30 to 45 minutes to your commute.
5. Secaucus
Only 8.4 miles from New York City, Secaucus is a great choice for New Jersey residents who work in the Big Apple. Depending on the route and traffic, it can take as little as 30 to 45 minutes to drive into Manhattan from Secaucus. Secaucus residents can also reach Manhattan by train, which takes roughly 15 minutes.
Public transportation in Secaucus is so good that only 55% of residents use their cars to get to work. The residential areas are quite safe in Secaucus, but that said, there are some dangerous areas. Even still, Secaucus residents report feeling safe and that it’s a great place to raise a family.
That explains the median household income of $129,348 and 62.8% employment rate. Secaucus boasts a 50.8% homeownership rate with an even mix of renters and homeowners.
6. Fort Lee
Right by the George Washington Bridge, Fort Lee is the perfect New Jersey city for people who work in NYC. Fort Lee is only 12.5 miles from NYC, and the bridge access makes the commute quite easy. Fort Lee is somewhat pricier than other New Jersey cities in the NYC metropolitan area.
That said, it’s worth the cost of living in Fort Lee if you want to make your commute easier. Today, the median household income in Fort Lee is $130,080. Over 63% of Fort Lee’s population currently works, and that explains the strong local economy.
Fort Lee is a great place to live whether you have a car, or not as public transportation runs throughout the day. For example, a train ride into Manhattan is only 23 minutes long, or half the length of a drive.
7. Edgewater
Edgewater, New Jersey offers the best of both worlds between quiet suburban life and proximity to NYC. Today, Edgewater is home to just over 14,600 residents. While traffic picks up once you reach NYC, you can enjoy a relatively calm commute until then.
Edgewater’s population is considered affluent with a median household income of $136,808. That explains the high homeownership and vehicle ownership rate. However, the tradeoff is that Edgewater doesn’t boast the best public transportation system.
Luckily, it takes between 20 and 60 minutes to reach Times Square in Manhattan depending on the time of day. Our team handles many Bergen County moves, and Edgewater is among our biggest service areas.
8. Maplewood
Maplewood is yet another popular suburb in Essex County, New Jersey that is close to NYC. The low population of 25,684 residents makes life in Maplewood quiet. Roughly 20 miles from NYC, you can quickly reach Manhattan from Maplewood by car or train.
Maplewood is home to many local industries, including rum distilleries, but many residents work in NYC. The 68.4% employment rate is a sign of the many opportunities you can find in and around Maplewood. While the cost of living in Maplewood is higher than in some other suburbs, the township makes up for it with a great quality of life.
9. Teaneck
Teaneck is a mid-sized New Jersey suburb with a population of 41,246 as of the 2020 census. Just over 16 miles from New York City, Teaneck is an affordable place to live for people who work in the Big Apple. It only takes 45 to 60 minutes to reach NYC by car from Teaneck, and that’s great considering the area.
While there are many local employment opportunities, many Teaneck residents work in NYC. At Optimum Moving, we frequently handle moves in Teaneck, NJ, and the surrounding Essex County. We have found that Teaneck is easy to navigate whether you visit nearby towns or drive into NYC.
10. Montclair
The constant stimulation and excitement of New York City is a lot to deal with, that is unless you can retreat to a quiet suburb. Montclair is close enough to NYC to enjoy the excitement yet far enough away that you can comfortably raise a family. Located 18.6 miles from Manhattan, commuting from Montclair to NYC is relatively painless.
You can typically reach NYC from Montclair in 40 minutes, that is unless traffic is congested. Located in Essex County, Montclair is near some other great NYC suburbs, such as Glen Ridge and Short Hills. Montclair has a 68.6% employment rate due to great local jobs as well as opportunities in NYC.
This New Jersey suburb is popular for families as there are many affordable single-family homes. Montclair is also known for its great public education system. The area is also perfect for young, single professionals as the downtown area is quite fun, and you can find many affordable apartments.
Optimum is the Best Choice for Your NYC Suburb Move
After over 10 years of service, our team has seen nearly every inch of the New York metropolitan area. This includes the many incredible NYC suburbs in New Jersey, such as Hoboken, Fort Lee, Edgewater, and beyond. We have helped countless customers move to and from New Jersey cities near New York City in search of quick commutes.
Community-focused, we love helping customers move to safe cities near NYC that afford them comforts that the Big Apple cannot. Luckily, New Jersey is chock-full of great cities near NYC with short commutes and an affordable cost of living. Call Optimum Moving at (855) 315-6683 to get an estimate for your upcoming New Jersey move.