The 10 Best Places to Live in Jersey City, NJ
Jersey City is a huge, sprawling metropolis packed with things to see, do, and experience. But like all cities, it has its best parts and its worst parts. If you’re looking to make Jersey City your next permanent home, don’t overlook the importance of research. Without doing your homework, you might inadvertently wind up living in one of the city’s less salubrious areas. To help set you on the right track, we’ve rounded up 10 of the very best places to live in Jersey City, NJ. Without further ado, here they are.
10. Greenville
With a population of 47,654, Greenville is one of the largest neighborhoods in Jersey City. While size isn’t everything, it definitely helps in this case. The range of amenities is excellent, as is the number of parks and green areas. The vibe is charmingly vibrant, contributing to a lively, infectious atmosphere that immediately gets under your skin. If you’re looking for a neighborhood where there’s always something to go and something to see, it’s ideal.
9. Journal Square
What makes Journal Square such an attractive destination? For a start, its affordability: with a median income of $51,723 and a median home value of $282,588, it has one of the best income to home value indexes in Jersey City. The streets are safe and packed with a great range of shops, restaurants, and bars, the job market is healthy, and the transport links into the rest of the city are without fault.
8. Mcginley Square
Mcginley Square is a regular feature on ‘best of’ lists, and for good reason. The average home price is an affordable $269,981, while the job market is healthy enough to support a very reasonable median income. Add to that some great schools, a vibrant, dynamic atmosphere, and a bountiful supply of shops, cafes, and other recreational venues, and you can understand what makes it one of Jersey City’s most desirable destinations.
7. The Heights
By New Jersey standards, people in The Height’s don’t make the most impressive salaries. The median income is just $57,801 – a healthy figure compared to the US average, but low in comparison to the NJ median. But there’s a silver lining. Properties here have a median value of $294,966 – a great price for New Jersey. If the appealing property prices weren’t enough to tempt you, the neighborhood’s great range of schools, parks, shops, and restaurants definitely should. As an added plus, the crime rate isn’t bad at all.
6. West Side
If the idea of landing a good-sized family home for just $295,092 appeals to you, you might want to consider casting your eyes in the direction of West Side. Along with reasonable home prices, the neighborhood boasts a decent median income of $56,906, a low unemployment rate, a great job market, and plenty of green spaces, shops, restaurants, cafes, and other amenities. The crime rate is also more than reasonable for Jersey City, making it a great option for young families looking to raise their kids in an affordable, safe district.
5. Hackensack Waterfront
JCFamilies ranks Hackensack Waterfront as one of the best spots in Jersey City for families. It’s not hard to see why. Its school system is superb, boasting high test scores and some of the highest graduation rates in the state. The job opportunities are plentiful, resulting in a household income that stands at 156% higher than the New Jersey average. To top it all, the streets are incredibly safe thanks to a crime rate that barely registers. Like most of Jersey City’s most desirable parts, the cost of living is high. But as that old saying goes, you get what you pay for.
4. The Waterfront
If you want to live in The Waterfront neighborhood of New Jersey, prepare to blow a big chunk of your savings on a property. This neighborhood is many things, but cheap isn’t one of them. To land a single-family home here, you’ll need to splash out around $443,890. Fortunately, you get a lot of return for your investment. The economy is strong enough to support a median income of $139,130. Thanks to a crime rate of just 927 per 100 thousand residents, the streets are some of the safest in Jersey City. There’s also plenty of things to do, with shop, bars, restaurants, galleries, and parks packing the streets.
3. Grove Street
Back in 2015, the New York Times ran an article on Grove Street. In it, the author waxed lyrical about the sudden influx of stylish restaurants, bars, and shops that were helping transform the formerly downbeat area into one of the most up-and-coming neighborhoods in Jersey City. 5 years on, and it’s no longer up and coming. It’s arrived. Packed with hip venues and charming old brownstones, the neighborhood oozes character. Thanks to the fact the Port Authority of NJ and NY are based on the street, it’s as ideal for commuters as it is for young families looking for a safe, vibrant neighborhood to make their base.
2. Liberty Park
If you don’t mind sacrificing a large part of your savings for the privilege of living in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Jersey City, you might want to consider Liberty Park. Area Vibes has given it a ‘liveability’ rating of 86/100, which earns it the status of ‘exceptional.’ And it certainly has a lot of exceptional qualities. For a start, its crime rate is 60% lower than the Jersey City average. Amenities are bountiful, putting residents within easy reach of grocery stores, libraries, and recreational venues. The community is close-knit and friendly, imbuing the neighborhood with a friendly charm that more than compensates for its astronomical median home value of $350,100.
1. Downtown
According to Home Snacks, Downtown ranks as the best neighborhood in Jersey City. Why? Maybe it’s the very attractive median income of $96,329. Maybe it’s the fact homeowners have so much confidence in their neighborhood’s desirability, they’re happy to attach an asking price of $484,010 to their properties. Perhaps it’s the low crime rate, the plethora of job opportunities, or the abundance of things to do and see. Whatever it is, it’s already managed to attract over 31,000 people, with more adding to their number each year.
