Nice place between NYC and New Brunswick (dual commute) (Jersey City: apartment, home)

[tommycomelately]

Hi everyone,

Long time lurker, first time poster. My girlfriend and I are most likely going to be moving to Jersey this summer. I'll be commuting to midtown Manhattan (by public transportation) and she will be commuting to New Brunswick (probably by car).

We are in our mid-late 20's and we don't want to be too suburban and we want to be close to a decent nightlife - we don't need to go clubbing or drink all night every night, but good restaurants and a few decent bars. I grew up in Manhattan and I love being able to walk everywhere - grocery store, deli, nightlife - so I'd like to stay in that type of location. Safety is also a concern as my girlfriend will be coming and going at odd hours (graduate student). I'm thinking Hoboken, but I'm curious what the commute would be like to New Brunswick.

I'd appreciate your thoughts or any other suggestions for a (relatively) young couple who doesn't want to sacrifice a decent night life but can't afford Manhattan and has to live in NJ for financial aid/scholarship reasons.

Ideally, we'd like a 1BR + den or a decent sized 1BR in a modern building (she REALLY wants a washer and dryer IN the apt)
Budget could go as high as $1800 or so

Thanks!

[veuvegirl]

You can look at Maplewood/South Orange; hubby works in New Brunswick and commutes from here every day. We are on the Midtown Direct so you can get right into the city.

Also; look in New Brunswick! I am not sure the length of the commute into NYC, but it is going through a great revival; it is worth a look!

[Lusitan]

Rahway is sort of in the middle between NYC and New Brunswick, and on the train line that goes directly to each. There are quite a few new apartment buildings downtown, convenient to the train station.

[girl-973-908-732]

Originally Posted by tommycomelately

Hi everyone,

Long time lurker, first time poster. My girlfriend and I are most likely going to be moving to Jersey this summer. I'll be commuting to midtown Manhattan (by public transportation) and she will be commuting to New Brunswick (probably by car).

We are in our mid-late 20's and we don't want to be too suburban and we want to be close to a decent nightlife - we don't need to go clubbing or drink all night every night, but good restaurants and a few decent bars. I grew up in Manhattan and I love being able to walk everywhere - grocery store, deli, nightlife - so I'd like to stay in that type of location. Safety is also a concern as my girlfriend will be coming and going at odd hours (graduate student). I'm thinking Hoboken, but I'm curious what the commute would be like to New Brunswick.

I'd appreciate your thoughts or any other suggestions for a (relatively) young couple who doesn't want to sacrifice a decent night life but can't afford Manhattan and has to live in NJ for financial aid/scholarship reasons.

Ideally, we'd like a 1BR + den or a decent sized 1BR in a modern building (she REALLY wants a washer and dryer IN the apt)
Budget could go as high as $1800 or so

Thanks!

Hoboken may be good for you. She'll either take the NJ Turnpike South in the mornings or the GSParkway South in the morining. Let me tell you, it's going to be an easy commute for her in the mornings and in the evenings a little more congested, but fairly easy.

In the moring, most of the traffic on the Turnpike and Parkway are headed North, with her heading South to New Brunswick, she'll dodge the traffic adn the same in the evening, although it's a little more congested. You'll be right at the train station and ferry, so you'll be good too! I think Hoboken would be a good move.

[MJJersey]

I agree mostly with Girl, the commute south from Hoboken won't be so bad, but coming north in the evening could slow her down a bit. Public transportation from that area into the city is fairly easy via the PATH. If you're thinking of Hoboken, you should also consider Jersey City. The commute will be just as easy and you'll be able to find something more affordable. IMO, Hoboken is fairly over-rated and over-priced.

[tommycomelately]

Thanks everyone. I guess I'm more concerned with the traffic issue for her driving south to New Brunswick (and back in the evenings). I'm fairly confident that my comute won't be bad - the office is very close to Penn Station.

I was under the impression that Hoboken was cheaper than Jersey City though?

[JenniferBlanchard]

Have you considered Morristown? It's got decent nightlife and is very commutable to Rutgers (my alma mater!). A bit farther from NYC but definitely reachable by train - it's a mid-town direct line.

[sped]

I commute about twice a week from the Newport section of Jersey City to North Brunswick/East Brunswick. Door to door the drive takes me one hour and five minutes each way. The worst part of the commute is exiting and entering at Exit 9 in New Brunswick on the turnpike. After paying the turnpike toll, all the roads exiting the turnpike are bumper to bumper for about half a mile. It takes about ten to fifteen minutes to drive that half mile. The same thing happens going home --all the roads leading to the entrance ramp of the turnpike get congested. However, once you're actually on the turnpike, it's pretty smooth sailing.

[veuvegirl]

sped--have you tried Route 1? Hubby uses that to avoid that hole cluster.