Starting a PhD program at Rutgers Business School- Newark: Where to live (Jersey City: fit in, apartment complexes)

[wahoowa123]

Hi there,

I'll be moving to NJ from VA this fall to start school at Rutgers Business School- Newark. I've been looking at areas to rent an apartment in and would love some advice. Here's what I'm looking for.

1. A safe area (I'm a single female.)
2. Commute time is important. I do plan to have my car but I would also like to live in an area that is well connected to public transport, especially to RBS, since I hear that driving in NJ can be somewhat stressful.
3. Would also like to live in an area where parking is not a huge pain.
4. Would prefer an area that is more 'urban', with young professionals.

I've been looking at areas such as Harrison and Jersey City. Are there any other areas that you would recommend? What's the best way to go about the apartment search process?

[jdacunha]

What is your budget?

With a $1,000 budget that might not get you much in JC. The new stuff in Harrison will be $1600+ for a 1 bedroom.

I always recommend the Ironbound section of Newark. Parking depends what time you come home.

[gus030]

look for an apartment in society hill newark, you can walk from this to rutgers newark in around 5-10 mins and the walk through the campus area is completely safe

[wahoowa123]

Thanks for your responses!

1. I'm not too keen on living in Newark actually. I think I would consider Newark if there are any areas within the city that have been recently redeveloped and are safe. Are there any such areas? What is society hill/ the ironbound section like?

2. I'm looking for a 2 bedroom and my budget is about $1700-$1800. Would this be a realistic budget for Harrison?

3. What areas within Jersey City would you recommend?

4. Any other areas that you would recommend- how about Hoboken?

5. Are there any particular websites/realtors that you would recommend for the apartment search?

[jdacunha]

You can try craigslist or zillow. If you want to search for apartments in the Ironbound on Zillow just look for anything in the 07105 zip code. This is mostly a portuguese, brazilian, south american community. It is known for it's restaurants and bakery's. Plenty of places to eat at.

Your budget will get you the high end stuff in the Ironbound for a 2 bedroom:
Luxury- Top of the Line Apartments w/elevator & laundry onsite!

Ironbound - Newark - Reviews of Ironbound - TripAdvisor

In Harrison it will be one of the new apartments, but they are builder quality stuff. I think the 2 bedrooms are $2000+
Harrison Station | Just steps from the PATH

[madsheb]

Harrison for a one bedroom right now is about $1955 (current resident). However, there are studios (I am not sure if any available). There are also older apts in Harrison -- further from the PATH station. However, Harrison is quickly developing (several new apartment complexes are in development. VERY safe. You can walk to Rutgers Business School from anywhere in Harrison 10 - 25 minutes. Riding a bike is also a viable option. And, since Harrison is so close to the PATH station (again, anywhere in Harrison is a 1 - 20 minute walk to the PATH), you can get to lower Manhattan in 18 minutes. You can get to Newark (via PATH) in 1.5 minutes.

Harrison is located within a mile of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and
the downtown core of the City of Newark. To the east, Harrison is less than five (5) miles from
Jersey City, seven (7) miles from the Lincoln Tunnel and eight (8) miles from downtown
Manhattan.

[DannyHobkins]

Harrison is only a slight better then Newark and expensive because of access to the Path Train. Why not move into the Dorms? Hoboken is by far the best of all these areas.

[fred44]

I'd look into Bayonne.

[pruebas]

Forget Ironbound. Too noisy and crowded. And if you're not a Lusophone, you won't fit in anyway.

I suggest the Forest Hill section of Newark. It's like a suburban enclave in the city. Easy ride downtown via Light Rail or bus. Quiet and safe. (Just don't park overnight on the street, but that's true of many places.)

[jdacunha]

Originally Posted by pruebas

Forget Ironbound. Too noisy and crowded. And if you're not a Lusophone, you won't fit in anyway.

I suggest the Forest Hill section of Newark. It's like a suburban enclave in the city. Easy ride downtown via Light Rail or bus. Quiet and safe. (Just don't park overnight on the street, but that's true of many places.)

Really? And where is the OP going to go when he is in the Forest Hills section if he doesn't speak Spanish? There is so much to do along Bloomfield Avenue. There are still plenty of sketchy areas between FH and the school.

At least in the Ironbound you go straight from a safe area to the downtown.

I just rented three units in the Ironbound to someone that relocated from Denver CO another from George and the other from Jersey City and they all love it here. They all say how they are surprised this community is in Newark.

Noisy? Sure if you are close to a bar, don't look there.

I'd recommend looking around the Ann Street school section that from Ann Street to Gotthart Street. That is the safest and quietest area if you are looking for that.


For the record I've lived in the Ironbound my entire life and the area is changing over.