8 Tips for Choosing the Best New Jersey Town for an Easy Commute to NYC

Many people who live in these towns in the New Jersey suburbs commute into Manhattan for work. There are several commuting options if you’re heading into NYC—you can of course drive, which is a popular option. (However, you need to make sure you leave early enough to beat rush hour traffic, and it can be expensive when you take the cost of gas and parking into account.) We also have an extensive trail system, so taking the train (and therefore living close to a good train station) is another popular option. There are also a few different bus options as well. 

Deciding which New Jersey commuter town to live in for the best commute will depend on several different factors. Here are 8 tips on choosing the best New Jersey town for an easy commute: 

1.This may be obvious, but we have to say it: The closer you are to NYC, the more expensive you can expect homes to be.

Things get more affordable the further out you go, and you also have the opportunity to have more land and lower taxes. There are pros and cons no matter what you choose! 

2. “Train towns” are more pricey to live in.

Anywhere that there’s a train stop (especially if it’s closer to NYC), you can expect higher home prices. (If you live further out, take advantage of the express trains. There are some trains that will bypass several stations so you don’t have to stop and start as much.) 

3. Where are you going in Manhattan? Midtown and Downtown are very different commutes.

This is certainly something to factor into what town you decide you live in—it’s not enough to just get to NYC. Getting to the right area can = several additional minutes of commuting, give or take. 

4. Look for commuter buses.

Before COVID-19, Warren had a commuter bus. You could park, hop on the bus, and it would take you to Port Authority. Check out the Lakeland Bus Lines for commuter service updates. 

5. Living close to Route 78 is very desirable for driving into NYC.

Towns like Warren and Watchung are especially great for commuting via car. When you’re planning your trip, just be sure to account for rush hour traffic!

6. The New Jersey commuter towns that are closest to NYC that people usually choose to settle in are South Orange, Maplewood, Union, Cranford, and Westfield. 

For people who are moving out of the city, the area that includes South Orange, Maplewood, and Union are the first towns that people really decide to settle in. There are several train stops in these cities, and it doesn’t take you many stops to get home. Westfield and Cranford are especially hot towns right now.

7. Summit, New Jersey is a major train hub.

The Morristown Line and the Gladstone Line share the same stops until Summit, so you might have to change your train here and head north or south. Summit also happens to be one of the priciest towns to buy a home in. It is also very hard to get a parking permit for the Summit train station. 

8. The town of Long Hill includes several train stops and has a lot of parking.

Gillette, Stirling, and Millington are all areas based around the train stops, so you have a lot of opportunities to live within close proximity to a train station here. Also, Long Hill is known for having lots of parking availability (which can be an issue at many of the other train stations). 

To view your options and plan your commute, NJTransit.com is an excellent place to start.

Are you curious to learn more about buying a home in the New Jersey suburbs? We’re happy to chat and answer any questions you might have—no pressure!

You can contact us here.