Location recommendations needed! < $1500 for a studio possible? (Jersey City, East Orange: apartments, rent)
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Any location recommendations are appreciated. I currently bus into Manhattan from NJ and all told, my daily one-way commute takes anywhere from 1.5 - 2 hours. I'm paying around $1500 for a one bedroom out in suburbia (Montclair is the closest place to me) and I'm currently looking for locations that will put me within walking distance of a train (or at least a shorter bus ride). I can never find parking at the nearest station to me now.
I was looking at Little Falls, the heart of Montclair, and Maplewood as my front runners but haven't had much luck. On Craigslist, I found some studio apartments I really like in Jersey City that are under $1500. I'm a little surprised as things I've looked at further out have been more expensive. I haven't spent any time in Jersey City but it seems like a great option. So.... what cities would you look in if you were looking for something under $150 within a reasonable (1 hour) commute of Manhattan?
I'd look in South Orange. It has lots of multi-family houses and small, older apartment buildings within easy walking distance of the train, unlike Maplewood, where they are mostly on the edge of town. The problem is that a lot of them don't advertise online. They just put signs out front. Also, you're not going to get a gym, and the kitchen may date from the 1950's, but they'll be clean and decently maintained. Depends on your standards.
I would also look at the renovated and new buildings on East Harrison Street in East Orange. There's not a lot going on in the immediate vicinity, but it's an up-and-coming area, big police presence to keep it safe, and can't beat the commute. You can get luxury living for a decent price there. Lots of people from Maplewood/South Orange are moving there once their kids are out of school.
There are some handsome old buildings in Orange right on the South Orange border (Vose/Scotland and Randolph). Unfortunately, the neighborhood feels sketchy. It's not really in South Orange. I'm not aware of any major crime, but other buildings in the area are run down and it just looks crummy. But I've always loved this building:
Thank you, Kthnry! I will definitely check out South Orange. I'll go walk around and look for signs. Thank you so much for links! And the last building on the border is gorgeous.
I'm not looking for anything new or with a bunch of amenities. I actually like the old buildings better. If it has a roof and it's in a safe place, I'm set.
RB - Residential two-family
RC-1 - Residential multi-family/office
In the CBD and Business districts (B-1, B-2, B-3), there are a lot of two/three-story buildings with businesses on the ground floor and apartments above.
Weehawken or Union City would work and cut your commute time down substantially. A monthly NJ transit pass is only $107. Not sure you if prefer suburban environments which this is clearly not, but you mentioned you like Jersey City so this can be another option
Thank you all for these recommendations! It's helped to expand my search and I'm going to spend some time walking around the areas and viewing some places.
I haven't been in Orange in many years but I knew people that lived in nice apartments on Scotland Road in Orange and it is not safe at night walking from the train station.
However I would second South Orange. I have a friend that lives in one of the older apartments on Cottage Place.
If you’re not familiar with Jersey City, be careful. Parts are really nice, parts are really bad, and there’s a lot that’s somewhere in between. Best areas are in the 07302 and 07310 zip codes but they’ll be hard on the budget. Your budget would be easier to work with in Journal Square (JSQ). JSQ isn’t a flashy neighborhood. It’s kinda tired looking, honestly, but it’s not dangerous. PATH train to Manhattan runs 24/7 and a monthly pass is only $89. The money you save compared to a $200+ suburban commute could be applied to a nicer apartment in the $1650 range in JC. Weehawken and Union City are worth looking at too.
The apartments you saw in Jersey City, do you recall where they were?
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