Totally new to Jersey City, need help

[nowitsshowtime]

Lightrail does run to JC Heights, at least one end of it near UC border.

You shouldn't feel unsafe near JC Heights UC border

[BPerone201]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

Bergen - Layette and Greenville , the only neighbors that i do not feel safe walking , although i do drive through them. But would never take a bus through them.

I've walked and have taken PT around Greenville & Bergen/Lafeyette. It's crummy, no doubt- But I wouldn't even consider it that atrocious as far as crime goes- Maybe at night, but not during the day. I also work in JC (McGinley Sq), so I'm there frequently and I've yet to have any issues.

Jersey City overall gets a lot of exaggerated negative hype from suburbia- It really has a crime rate comparable to Boston if you really want to get down to it. The only issue I can see people having with JC is the grit. The areas apart from the Waterfront can be pretty gritty, though it's obviously on the rebound.

To the OP, you might want to check out The Heights, or even Hoboken as well. Keep looking where you looking, I'm not to sure why it's so hard for you to find a studio/1bd with your budget in those particular neighborhoods.
Are you using Craigslist? If not, you should.

[gagaliya]

JC - areas around newport path, exchange place path, grove path, and jsq path are ok (from best to worst). Avoid all other areas, they are not livable.

[JC1990]

J.Sq is your best bet. There you can find a 1bd for between 1000-1500. but 5 min, c'mon now. nyc doesn't have that either unless its across from the station. and i know its your preference but why would you need to be so close to PATH stations if your job is relocating into JC, i know you would obviously go back to queens when you have time off, but the way you describe your preferences seems as if you don't need to be so close to PATH stations. I'm not judging but if you moved just a few blocks further from PATH stations your search will become a whole lot easier.