Okay, so I wanted to figure out which New Jersey neighborhoods are actually convenient for getting into New York City. I mean, who wouldn’t want the (slightly) lower cost of living with that sweet, sweet NYC access? So, I started digging.
First Steps: The Obvious Choices
I started with the places everyone always talks about:
- Hoboken: I knew this was a popular spot, super close, with the PATH train right there.
- Jersey City: Also right across the river, also with PATH access. Seemed like a no-brainer.
- Weehawken: I’d heard it had amazing views, and I figured it must be pretty close, too.
I pulled up some maps, checked out some train schedules, just to get a feel for the basics.
Digging Deeper: Beyond the Usual Suspects
But I didn’t want to just stick with the obvious. I wanted to see if there were any hidden gems. So I started expanding my search:
- I looked at towns along the NJ Transit train lines, like Secaucus and Montclair.
- I also checked out areas near the ferries, thinking that might be a nice way to commute.
- Then I started getting into forums online. I was checking out Reddit threads and other random blog posts. It was there that I get other suggestions.
The “Commute Time” Experiment
Knowing the names of places is one thing, but I needed to get a sense of actual commute times. It’s so difficult, because the traffic is real, people! So, I did this:
- I used some map apps and picked some random rush hour times. I pretended I was going from these different towns to, like, Midtown Manhattan.
- I jotted down the estimated travel times, by train, by bus, even by car (though driving into NYC is usually a nightmare, I know!).
My Findings (So Far!)
It is not easy, you know. It takes time to find the perfect neighborhood. Here’s the rough idea I’ve got so far:
- Hoboken and Jersey City are definitely the quickest commutes, as expected. We’re talking, like, 20-30 minutes to get into the city on the PATH.
- Weehawken is also pretty fast, especially if you’re near the ferry.
- Some of those towns further out, like Montclair, can be surprisingly doable, maybe 45 minutes to an hour on the train, depending on where you’re going in the city.
I’m still researching, though! I want to look into things like parking (if I ever did drive), and, of course, the vibe of each neighborhood. It’s a work in progress, but I’m feeling pretty good about my initial findings. Finding a New Jersey spot close to NYC is totally possible!
