10 Best Commuter Towns in NJ To NYC

New York, I love you, but you’re too expensive and that’s why I created this list of the 10 best commuter towns in NJ to NYC.

I will probably live in New York City for the rest of my life until I die, especially because the idea of a suburban life gives me anxiety. First of all, I hate driving, which is the main reason I moved to a public transportation-dominated place. Secondly, I don’t like the idea of neighborhoods that don’t have easy delivery services for food or the sounds of sirens in the middle of the night. I’m terrified of the complacency that comes with suburbia. That being said, plenty of people are not like me and have dreams of working in the city but coming home to their families in a beautiful home in a nice town. That’s a really cool dream and I’m proud of you if that’s how you feel about life.

New York City has a pretty high cost of living and it’s just not pragmatic for everyone. If you have kids, you might not want to raise them in the city and would rather live in a place like New Jersey where they have a little more space. The suburbs tends to have a lower population and people tend to own homes rather than rent cramped apartments. The median home price in NJ is around $300,000. 

In order to create this list, I had to consider the commute time, cost of living, and other factors like if it’s family-friendly or not. Although one town has some advantages, others may have advantages in other categories. The greatest importance, however, was placed on commute time since this is a list of the best commuter towns in NJ to NYC. The towns on this list are the ones with a New Jersey Transit bus route or light railway and train accessibility. If you have your own car that you want to drive, that’s cool, too, but good luck parking it anywhere in NYC and dealing with the traffic. It’s actually pretty cheap to use public transportation from NJ to NYC.

If New Jersey isn’t really your thing and you want some other options, check out our list of the 6 Easiest Towns to Commute to NYC. Keep reading for the 10 best commuter towns in NJ to NYC if you still think the New Jersey life is for you:

10. North Arlington

Commute time: 45 minutes – 1 hour

North Arlington, located in Bergen County, has a population of about 15,900 and one-way fare to NYC is about $7.

9. Cliffside Park

Commute time: 42 – 50 minutes

Also in Bergen County, Cliffside Park has a population of about 24,900 and a one-way fare costs $4.50.

8. Moonachie

Commute time: 38 – 45 minutes

Bergen County is a characteristic of a few of the places on our list of the 10 best commuter towns in NJ to NYC. Moonachie has a population of only 2,800, perfect for people who want the small town life, and a one-way fare is $4.50.

7. Rutherford

Commute time: 28 – 30 minutes

Rutherford is also in Bergen County. One-way fare is $7 and it has a population of about 18,700.

6. Carlstadt

Commute time: 23 – 28 minutes

Carlstadt has a population of 6,300 and one-way fare is $4.50.

5. Ridgefield

Commute time: 20 – 27 minutes

With a population of 11,400, Ridgefield is a great small town. One-way fare costs $4.50.

4. Guttenberg

Commute time: 19 – 23 minutes

Guttenberg is located in Hudson County and has a population of 11,700. One-way fare costs only $3.50.

3. East Rutherford

Commute time: 18 – 20 minutes

Home to MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford only has a population of 9,200 and a one-way fare costs $4.50.

2. West New York

Commute time: 15 – 18 minutes

You can have New York in the name of your home without actually living in New York. West New York has a population of around 53,400 and a one-way fare costs $3.50.

1. Secaucus

Commute time: 13 – 15 minutes

The top town on our list is Secaucus. It has a population of 19,100. It only takes up to 15 minutes to get to NYC if you live here and it costs $3.50 for a one-way fare.

That finishes off our list of the 10 best commuter towns in NJ to NYC. If you’re looking to save some money but still be able to get to your NYC job or activities, hopefully, this list was helpful. What town suits you best?