Living in Central NJ without a car? (Newark, Jersey City: apartments, to rent)

[phoenixfeather7]

Hi everyone!

I am going to be relocating to NJ from NYC this summer for a job at Robert Wood Johnson. I am looking at apartments close to New Brunswick (Somerset, Piscataway, etc). I will have a car when I move there, so it's not an issue for me.

However, my bf is thinking of moving to NJ to be closer to me (). He currently works in Midtown NYC. He does not have a car and probably won't be able to get one for a while. So he needs an apartment that is walking distance from the train to NYC, as well as walking distance from groceries, laundry/dry cleaning, and other shopping necessities. Preferably rent would be less than 1000/mo, since he will be paying a lot per month for the train to NY.

Is that something that is reasonable? I appreciate his willingness to move to be near me, but I don't want him to have a hard time with day-to-day life if he can't get around without a car. In that case, it might make more sense for him to stay in NYC and just see each other on weekends.

Also, is biking a feasible option for getting around in that area?

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

[NJhighlands87]

Metuchen has a walkable downtown which is convenient without a car. Rahway is a bit further way, but also has a downtown. Both are on the train line to NB.

[timneh5]

Hightstown and East Windsor are about 20 miles to New Brunswick. Both towns have bus lines that go to NY; there's no train station. Hightstown is a small walkable town that is close to the necessities you mentioned. East Windsor has the larger stores like Target, Walmart, and Home Depot...depending on where you live, they may not be within walking distance.

[OysterCatcher]

Outside of NYC and Hoboken and JC it's really hard to get by without a car

[RobRiguez]

NewBrunswick is probably the closest town/city that's livable without a car in central jersey. Most of the other towns mentioned do have downtown sections with shops but are usually only a few blocks long. Its nothing like NYC and the boroughs where there is a bodega on every corner of every block. To get that you would need to go to a MUCH more urban area in north jersey. Newark, Jersey City, Union City, Elizabeth, etc.

Also, it would be very hard to find an apartment ANYWHERE for less than $1k/month and especially hard the closer you are to a train station with an express to the city.

I say you shack up and split the costs. If hes willing to move for you, maybe living together is the next step?

[amazin09]

Some apartments in Edison also provide shuttle service to the train station.

[Rare727]

I guess he could technically manage it, but it'd be difficult. Even if he lived in a more walkable town like Metuchen (not a cheap town), you'd still have trouble getting to places like the mall, grocery stores, ect. There is some public transportation, but it's not nearly as frequent or reliable as it is in NYC. If he's doing it for a relatively short amount of time it might be doable, but I wouldn't suggest it for long-term.

I do agree New Brunswick might be your best option, but I don't know if you could manage $1000 a month in the more desirable areas of that town.

[rajl]

We've a place to rent 2BR, 2Bath condo in North Brunswick. Rent is $1700. If that works for you, please contact me.

There is a free shuttle to Jersey Ave train station and outside the community is bus to NYC. I can answer more questions if that works for you.

-R

[Popfizz]

Ohhh... City data turns to craigslist !!

[ScarletKnightJet]

New Brunswick is doable without a car. Plenty of RU students don't have one.

Now that there is a real grocery store by the train, it's pretty doable. The train is right there to NYC and other spots in NJ. Tons of bars and restaurants.

What would be tough is stores and the mall.