9 New Jersey Towns With Easy Commutes to NYC

There has always been a strange rivalry between New York City and its neighbor to the east. 

Some might even say New Yorkers don’t take Jersey seriously enough to consider it a rivalry. But whatever the folktales may be, there’s plenty to take seriously in New Jersey, from popular neighborhoods with stunning views of the Hudson River to residential oases with top-notch condominium complexes. 

But there’s one extra perk, albeit an ironic one, that makes all of the towns below worth exploring for potential homebuyers: easy access to the Big Apple.

At the end of the day, while you can’t really compare New Jersey to New York City, the high-octane pace of living can be a daunting prospect. Jersey meanwhile, has all the comfort without all the rush hour you’ll find in Manhattan. 

Below, we will showcase the top nine New Jersey towns with easy commutes to New York City, from Hoboken and its stunning collection of high-rise condos to Englewood Cliff’s trove of luxurious homes. 

Top New Jersey towns with easy commutes to NYC

• Jersey City
• Hoboken
• Edgewater
• Fort Lee
• Englewood
• Englewood Cliffs
• Weehawken
• Teaneck
• Tenafly

Jersey City

There’s no denying Jersey City’s appeal: A vibrant Downtown with plenty of upbeat cafes, eateries, shops, and restaurants, direct access to the PATH train, and plenty of unique neighborhoods that offer interested buyers almost everything they need.

Your commute from Jersey City to Manhattan will ultimately depend on your preference. Driving is technically faster - if we imagine traffic isn’t that bad - as it offers commuters a 17-minute drive to Downtown Manhattan via the Holland Tunnel. That’s the time frame you can expect if you’re not traveling during peak hours, of course.

Rush hour can potentially extend your commute from 17 minutes up to 35 minutes, or even more, depending on conditions. Yet, if you plan on leaving your home early, there’s a possibility you can snag yourself one of the easiest commutes to Manhattan available in New Jersey.

For those who can’t stomach bumper-to-bumper traffic, public transportation options abound with multiple routes. 

Ideally, you’ll want to be as close as possible to Journal Square and its train station. The PATH train departs from Journal Square regularly, serving as the most common commute option for travelers going into NYC. Depending on how long it takes you to get to Journal Square, your commute from the station to the heart of Downtown NYC can take about 35-45 minutes.

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Hoboken

Hoboken’s stunning waterfront views and exquisite condominiums have quickly cemented it as one of Jersey’s most desirable cities. 

Prices reflect the demand, as Hoboken often pushes the boundaries of modern, luxury condos and top-of-the-line amenities. The "Mile Square City" - a nickname earned for its small territory - has long parted ways with its industrial past and embraced a slew of chic cafes, lively entertainment, and plenty of shopping and dining options. 

And if the illustrious history isn’t enough to pique your interest - Hoboken is home to the famed Stevens Institute of Technology and is known as the birthplace of Frank Sinatra - then its commuting options to NYC surely will. 

Hoboken offers potential residents the trifecta of commuting options: bus, car, and train. The city’s ideal location perfectly positions it to take advantage of either option, so ultimately, the choice is simply about preference rather than what is more convenient. 

Barring traffic, a drive through the Holland Tunnel will get you to Times Square within 15 minutes. Rush hour can push that number to 45 minutes, so the earlier you leave during commuting days, the better.

If you plan on traveling by bus, look for the 126 line. Operated by NJ Transit, the bus travels along the scenic waterfront to get you to the Port Authority Bus Terminal within 26-35 minutes, depending on traffic.

Lastly, if you prefer the PATH train, you can head to Hobokens waterfront station at Hudson Place. The orange line connects you directly to 34th Street Herald Square which will then give you access to almost every major subway line you’ll need.

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Edgewater

Take the best of Hoboken’s waterfront glamor and combine it with Jersey’s iconic residential charm and you’ll get the popular Edgewater.

True to its name, the Bergen County borough is located on the edge of the Hudson River, overlooking the magnificent NYC skyline. Though it doesn’t boast the same amenities and electrifying entertainment scene as Hoboken, it can easily compete in terms of real estate offerings, as Edgewater offers everything from quaint, single-family homes to established and new-construction condos with breathtaking views of the river and NYC.

The only downside to Edgewater’s commuting options - and that of its neighboring towns - is its lack of access to train options. You’ll have to rely on driving or buses to get to NYC. The good news is that multiple buses, specifically the 156 and the 158 lines, make frequent stops through Edgewater, getting commutes into the heart of Manhattan within 45 minutes, on average.

In typical traffic conditions, driving to Times Square, for example, can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. Commuters can choose to pass through the George Washington Bridge or head south along the waterfront to take the Lincoln Tunnel. 

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Fort Lee

If you’ve ever traveled via the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey, you’ve passed through Fort Lee. 

A boutique-sized town with unlimited residential charm and storied condominium buildings overlooking the Hudson River, Fort Lee also boasts a unique history tied to the Revolutionary War. The town’s Main Street was once the route that George Washington’s army took as they retreated in November of 1776. 

Fort Lee is also the birthplace of America’s motion picture industry - that’s right; not Los Angeles - and featured the nation’s first film studios. The town's ideal location right across the river from NYC and immediate access to the George Washington Bridge make it one of the most popular places to live in Bergen County. While it is predominantly residential with some unique eateries and bars thrown in, Fort Lee can easily access the rest of New Jersey and NYC at will.

Just like Edgewater, Fort Lee is limited to either buses or driving in terms of commuting. Its main advantage, however, is that it’s right next to the George Washington Bridge, potentially allowing you to avoid traffic that can start as early as Edgewater during especially congested rush hours. 

If you skip the drive, which can be as easy as a 20-minute cruise down the West Side Highway if traffic permits, you can take advantage of NJ Transit’s 158 and 156 buses. Each travels directly across the bridge to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal, which can then connect you to the express A train and an easy commute to Times Square in under 25 minutes. 

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Englewood

Head a bit further north into Bergen County from Fort Lee and you’ll reach one of the most popular cities in this slice of New Jersey. 

Comfortably separated from the traffic jams near George Washington Bridge yet full of every convenience a resident may need, Englewood epitomizes the residential, suburban charm that many New Jersey cities are prized for. Low-key entertainment, available at the celebrated Bergen Performing Arts Center, gives you access to top-notch concerts and live performances without having to traverse the madness of Times Square. While weekly Farmers' Markets and plenty of home-grown shops and eateries make Englewood completely self-sufficient.

For commuters, a 45-minute trip will be a daily routine, facilitated by either bus or car. Travelers can take advantage of the NJ Transit’s 166 and 171 buses, or the Route 4 Jitney, each arriving at the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal for connection to the A express train. 

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Englewood Cliffs

One of Bergen County’s most luxurious residential oases lies just east of Englewood, covering only 3.3 square miles. 

Englewood Cliffs overlooks a majestic portion of the Hudson River, completing the romanticized image of stately homes overlooking a cliffside with a glimmering cityscape in the distance. Naturally, extravagant estates and mansions were built over the years to take advantage of the unforgettable views and easy access to some of NYC’s best attractions, such as the Cloisters Museum and Fort Tyron Park.

Apart from a few select eateries, Englewood Cliffs is all about private living in some of the best real estate New Jersey has to offer. This is where you’ll want to look if you are searching for a forever home with a straightforward commute to NYC.

Like its neighbors, Englewood Cliffs shares the same commuter route, which means weekdays will likely demand 45 minutes of travel time. The slight difference in location from Englewood gives Englewood Cliffs access to the NJ Transit’s 186 bus, which can go either directly to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Times Square, or connect you to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal for use of the A express train. 

If you plan on driving, always plan on leaving early as you’ll have to face the congestion on George Washington Bridge. Leave early enough, and you might enjoy a breezy drive from the bridge down the Hudson River Parkway to wherever you need to go in Manhattan. But if you hit the early-morning rush hour, get ready for a drive of about 45 minutes to an hour if you’re heading to the center of the city.

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Weehawken

In some ways, Weehawken is a mirror image of Fort Lee when it comes to its location. Replete with coveted real estate and technically a stone’s throw away from some of NYC’s most iconic attractions - think Lincoln Center and Metropolitan Opera - it’s located right next to one of the most congested access points into the Big Apple.

Like Fort Lee’s George Washington Bridge, the Lincoln Tunnel can be notoriously congested, yet the commute is still one of the most convenient of all the NJ towns we’ve mentioned thus far. 

The minute you cross the tunnel, you are instantly in the heart of the city. This effectively makes travel time from Weehawken to Times Square around 16-20 minutes, even during moments of traffic. The higher the congestion the longer the commute, but the shorter travel distance still makes Weehawken potentially the best commuter town for folks planning on visiting the Big Apple on a daily basis.

The NJ Transit’s 159, 156, and 158 buses all take off from Lincoln Harbor and travel via the Lincoln Tunnel to get to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Access to three bus lines instead of just one makes it even easier to get to work on time during peak travel hours, as each serves the same bus stop. 

Driving will make the commute a tad harder, and your best option will be the Lincoln Tunnel. Aim to travel about 30 to 40 minutes during the most congested traffic, and enjoy a breezy 15-minute drive on days when rush hours are more relaxed.

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Teaneck

Bordering Englewood to the east is one of Bergen County’s top so-called "bedroom" communities. 

Teaneck has long since established itself as one of NJ’s most popular residential townships. Its real estate offerings include everything from cozy townhouses to formidable condominiums to coveted single-family homes on sizable plots of land. Teaneck’s streets are dressed in rows of trees that create that sought-after atmosphere of being closer to nature. That atmosphere isn’t an illusion, either.

Teaneck is home to multiple small natural reserves, such as the Flat Rock Brook Nature Center and the Teaneck Creek Conservancy. Couple that with a slew of local parks, and you’ll have a township that makes being outdoors more often a lot easier.

Though Teaneck is a bit further from the other towns we mentioned, it still manages an average 45-minute commute into NYC. 

The 167 bus creates an alternative route through NJ’s I 95, potentially bypassing the congestion that often forms at the George Washington Bridge. The bus then goes through the Lincoln Tunnel and arrives at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Times Square. Another option is the Route 4 Jitney, which will take you to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal to connect you with the A express train.

Tenafly

One of Bergen County’s other celebrated townships replete with luxury real estate borders Englewood Cliffs, enjoying similar perks, views, and a selection of some of the best homes available in the state.

Tenafly’s western section is home to the Tenafly Nature Center and the Greenbrook Nature Sanctuary, which give residents unparalleled access to the outdoors without leaving their town’s borders.

Branching out into the eastern reaches of the town are majestic, tree-lined streets that showcase an extensive array of prized single-family homes, mansions, and large plots of land. Mostly residential, Tenafly prefers to maintain its tranquil airs. Yet multiple restaurants and a local golf course liven up the activity and give residents local options for enjoying a night out. 

Tenafly’s commute into Times Square, for instance, can stretch to an hour and a half on super congested days. 

The 166 and 167 buses service the area, taking the I-95 expressway to get into Manhattan via the Lincoln Tunnel. Unless you are driving, it makes less sense to travel via the George Washington Bridge as access to I-95 is much closer. You can expect shorter commutes during off-peak hours, either by bus or car, but be prepared to commute for at least an hour if you’re planning to travel into NYC daily. 

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