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New York rental guide - New Jersey

 

The basics

New Jersey sits to the west of Manhattan, just across the Hudson River. Due to excellent transport connections into Manhattan many areas of New Jersey feel like an extension of New York City rather than a separate state. As a result it's popular with commuters who work in the city. As a general rule, rents are substantially lower on the western side of the Hudson River than in Manhattan, although some areas have become so popular that rents are now pretty much equal.

Liberty Island (home to the world famous Statue of Liberty) is actually in New Jersey waters but, as the result of the odd historical circumstances of its construction, is technically part of New York.

A closer look

New Jersey's prime selling point is how easy it is to get to Manhattan from. The Lincoln and Holland Tunnels and George Washington Bridge connect the two and there's a great bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. New Jersey Transit trains run to and from Pennsylvania Station and the PATH train, which is essentially a second subway system, goes right into Manhattan. On top of that you've got ferries and water taxis running from Midtown and Lower Manhattan to several locations in New Jersey.

So what's there when you get across the river? Top of the list is the beautiful, charming and fast becoming overpriced city of Hoboken. It may only be one square mile in size but Hoboken packs in a population of 50,000 in row and apartment houses that create a place rather like a really nice, clean New York City neighborhood.

Jersey City, just south of Hoboken, has a burgeoning skyline of sleek skyscrapers, rivaling some of Manhattan's own for scale and beauty. Journal Square is a major hub and the combination of convenience, cost, amenities and space make this particular part of Northern New Jersey a great option.

Weehawken, Union City, Guttenberg, Cliffside Park and Fort Lee are all popular with commuters who want cheaper rents but without a long commute.

What's it like to live in Hoboken

What's it like to live in Jersey City

Check out rooms for rent in New Jersey

Find roommates looking in New Jersey