NYC metro NJ VS NYC metro NY(state) (better, America, metropolitan)

[Looking2BeFree]

Just out of curiosity, which side do you prefer?

New York Counties
Westchester
Nassau
Suffolk
Rockland
Orange
Putnam
Dutchess
Ulster

Pop: 5,089,838

New Jersey Counties
Bergen
Hudson
Essex
Passaic
Union
Morris
Somerset
Middlesex
Monmouth
Ocean
Hunterdon
Sussex
Mercer?

Pop: 6,601,186

Which side has better access into NYC?
Which side offers more? (Education, shopping, dining, etc)
Which side is more diverse?
Which side is more affordable?
What towns/cities in particular to you prefer over the "other" side?

Discuss.

[bballniket]

I think that the NJ suburbs easily offer more than the NY suburbs.

The NJ suburbs by far have the easiest access to Manhattan via PATH and NJ transit. The NJ suburbs (especially Hudson and Middlesex counties) are significantly more diverse than any of the LI suburbs.

I believe that the NJ suburbs have easier access to beaches than most of the NY suburbs, with the exception of Coastal Long Island (could be wrong here, though).

While more expensive than lower Hudson Valley counties of Orange, Putnam, Dutchess and Ulster, I believe the NJ suburbs are more affordable than most of Long Island and Westchester and probably even with Rockland.

I really like A LOT of NJ suburban towns including Ridgewood, Montclair, Rutherford, Westfield, Jersey City and Hoboken (though the last two towns are not really "suburban").
I haven't been shopping in the NY suburbs, but I think the combo of massive and/or upscale malls in Paramus, Short Hills, Wayne, Woodbridge and Edison (among others) can hang with Roosevelt Field Mall+Americana Manhasset+Palisades Center+etc.

Both sets of suburbs offer towns with good schools, but I believe by sheer size that the NJ suburbs offer many more towns with good schools.

[ThroatGuzzler]

That title's the most confusing thing i've read this week. Anyways, NJ side.

[BPerone201]

I picked the NJ side, it has a a much more diverse set of communities. I also believe NJ has better access into NYC, or atleast Manhattan anyway. There's a reason why NNJ (Hudson/Southern Bergen counties) is so densely populated, more so than anywhere in NYS.
I do love the NY side too though.

Education between the two is a toss up.

[john_starks]

this is a tough one, but i'm going with NJ

they're all pretty similar if you ask me. go to the L.I & NJ beaches and tell me if you see a difference

[Galactic]

Originally Posted by john_starks

this is a tough one, but i'm going with NJ

they're all pretty similar if you ask me. go to the L.I & NJ beaches and tell me if you see a difference

Totally agree. There are tons of similarities between LI and NJ suburbs.

[K.O.N.Y]

The new york side. It has a charm to it that i like and feels more connected, culturally to nyc

[nycricanpapi]

Originally Posted by K.O.N.Y

The new york side. It has a charm to it that i like and feels more connected, culturally to nyc

I second that. I agree with you. NJ is cool but NY is where it's at

[Marv95]

At least 3 of those NJ counties aren't in the NYC metro. Same can be said for Ulster.

[soug]

Originally Posted by Marv95

At least 3 of those NJ counties aren't in the NYC metro. Same can be said for Ulster.