14 Best New Jersey Commuter Towns to NYC 2024

Are you planning to move to the suburbs of New Jersey and commute to New York City? If so, we have prepared a list of the best commuter towns in NJ for you. We have included towns that are commutable to NYC via direct train connections or ferry services or bus. Our selection also includes a variety of commuter towns with different vibes, from charming small towns to vibrant cities. Check out our list below for the best NJ towns to commute to NYC.

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Best Commuter Towns in NJ

Montclair, NJ

Median Sale Price: $895,231

Train to NYC (Bay Street): 38 minutes

Bus to NYC (Express Bus from Montclair Heights): 33 minutes

Montclair, NJ is one of the best NJ towns to commute to NYC.

Montclair residents are lucky to have not just one but six train stations right in town! And Montclair is an NJ town with direct trains to NYC- no need to transfer trains!

Direct train service from Montclair to NYC is only 38 minutes.

Aside from direct trains to NYC, there are also NJ Transit buses to NYC in Montclair. It only takes just 33 minutes from Montclair to NYC.

Aside from being a town with an easy commute to NYC, Montclair also has a great downtown. There are lots of shops, restaurants and bars downtown. Plus the downtown is walkable.

With a median sale price of homes of $895,231, Montclair’s bustling downtown and easy commute to NYC, it makes Montclair one of the best NYC commuter towns in NJ.

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Short Hills, NJ

Median Sale Price: $2,070,000

Train to NYC: 38 minutes (Short Hills station)

Short Hills is an affluent NJ commuter town. Its excellent school system, upscale living, and easy commute to NYC make it an ideal NJ commuter town.

Do keep in mind living in Short Hills comes with a hefty price tag with the median sale price of homes at $2,070,000!

Commuting from Short Hills to NYC is easy because there are direct NYC trains from the Short Hills train station. This makes it possible for commuters to reach Midtown Manhattan in just 38 minutes!

Beyond commuting convenience, Short Hills is also one of the best NJ commuter towns for families because of its top-rated schools.

Short Hills school district, Millburn Township Public Schools, is consistently ranked as the best school district in New Jersey.

Short Hills is also famous for its shopping. The Mall at Short Hills, known for its luxury stores, is one of the most prestigious shopping malls in New Jersey.

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Glen Ridge, NJ

Median Sale Price: $834,000

Train to NYC: 35 minutes to Penn Station (Glen Ridge Station)

Glen Ridge is one of the best NYC commuter towns.

Commuting from Glen Ridge is hassle-free because there are direct trains to New York Penn Station from Glen Ridge station. There is no need for Glen Ridge commuters to transfer trains. You can easily get from Glen Ridge to Manhattan in 35 minutes!

And to add to the commuting convenience, Glen Ridge train station is within walking distance of most Glen Ridge residents because it’s a small town of just over 1 square mile.

However, Glen Ridge isn’t just a convenient commuter town. It’s also a desirable place to live in its own right.

Glen Ridge is an affluent suburb in New Jersey with tree-lined streets, stately pre-war colonials and Victorian homes.

Even without a downtown, Glen Ridge residents can easily access the shops and restaurants of nearby Montclair and Bloomfield. It’s a 6 minute drive from Glen Ridge to Montclair!

The Median Sale Price of Homes in Glen Ridge is $834,000.

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Leonia, NJ

Median Sale Price: $700,000

Bus to NYC: 36 minutes to Port Authority (Bus 166)

Leonia is one of the best commuter towns in New Jersey for families. Known for its excellent schools and convenient commute to NYC, Leonia is one of the best NJ commuter towns.

The commute to NYC from Leonia is fast. With easy access to major highways and multiple NJ Transit bus routes, Leonia residents can get to Port Authority Bus station in Manhattan in 36 minutes on bus 166.

Beyond commuting convenience, Leonia is known for its top-rated schools. The Leonia Public Schools system is consistently ranked in the top 15 best school districts in New Jersey.

The median sale price of homes in Leonia is $700,000, which is relatively affordable for Bergen County.

The combination of great schools, fast commute to NYC, and relatively affordable housing prices make Leonia an attractive NJ commuter town for families.

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Edgewater, NJ

Median Sale Price: $642,981

Ferry to NYC: 20 minutes

Bus to NYC: 29 minutes (bus 158)

Edgewater is one of the best New York commuter towns. Located just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, Edgewater residents enjoy waterfront living with impressive views of Manhattan.

Not only is the view amazing from Edgewater, but living in Edgewater is an easy commute to NYC by bus or ferry.

Edgewater is one of the few NJ towns with a ferry terminal in town.

The ferry ride from Edgewater to New York City’s midtown Manhattan is 20 minutes.

For Edgewater residents who live far from the Edgewater ferry terminal, they can take NJ Transit Bus 158 which runs on River Road. The bus ride to NYC from Edgewater is 29 minutes.

Aside from the easy NYC commute, Edgewater is also one of the most affordable NJ commuter towns with a median sale price of homes of $642,981.

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Tenafly, NJ

Median Sale Price: $1,159,000

Bus to NYC: 47 minutes to Port Authority (Bus 166)

Tenafly is one of the best commuter towns in New Jersey. Located in Bergen County, it is known for its top-rated schools and easy commute to NYC, making it one of the best NJ commuter towns for families.

Commuting from Tenafly is easy. There are many NJ Transit buses in Tenafly with direct routes to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan. It takes 47 minutes from Tenafly to midtown Manhattan on Bus 166.

Aside from the easy NYC commute, Tenafly’s public school district is consistently ranked among the best in New Jersey.

Compared to other NJ commuter towns on this list, the home prices at Tenafly are on the higher side with a median sale price of $1,159,000.

Hoboken, NJ

Median Sale Price: $831,115

Fastest Train to NYC: 9 minutes

Hoboken is one of the best towns to live in to commute to NYC. One of the main draws of living in Hoboken is the fast commute to NYC.

Hoboken has one of the fastest commutes to NYC on this list. With the PATH train, Hoboken is just a 9-minute ride to Christopher Street and 16 minutes to midtown Manhattan!

Hoboken is a NYC commuter town with an urban vibe, it has a bustling downtown and it’s a very walkable town. You don’t even need a car if you live in Hoboken! You can easily go to NYC by taking the PATH train!

It’s one of the best places to live in NJ with an easy commute to NYC, a median sale price of $831,115 and a vibrant and walkable downtown.

Summit, NJ

Median Sale Price: $1,106,346

Fastest Train to NYC: 43 minutes

Summit is one of the best suburbs for NYC commute. It’s one of the few NJ towns with direct trains to NYC.

Summit is an affluent New Jersey commuter town with a median sale price of $1,106,346.

Summit residents are lucky to have a train station with direct trains to NYC, making the commute easy. The train ride from Summit to New York Penn Station takes only 43 minutes.

Aside from the easy commute to NYC, Summit is a great commuter town because it has a walkable downtown with lots of restaurants and shops.

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Englewood, NJ

Median Sale Price: $ 487,192

Bus to NYC: 35 minutes (Bus 166)

Englewood is one of the best New Jersey commuter towns.

With a median sale price of $487,192, Englewood is the most affordable NYC commuter town on this list.

Located just across the George Washington Bridge, Englewood has express buses to NYC. The bus ride from Englewood to New York’s Port Authority is only 35 minutes on Bus 166.

Aside from being a town with an easy commute to NYC, Englewood has a bustling downtown and is close to Paramus Mall and Bergen Town Center Mall.

Plus Englewood is home to Englewood Hospital, recognized as one of the best hospitals in NJ.

Morristown, NJ

Median Sale Price: $696,731

Train to NYC: 1 hour

Morristown is an NJ town with direct trains to NYC making it one of the best New York commuter towns.

Ease of commuting is one of Morristown’s main draws. The Morristown train station has direct trains to Penn Station. It only takes an hour to commute from Morristown to New York City.

A charming small town with a bustling downtown, Morristown is also one of the most affordable commuter towns with a median home price of $797,731.

The easy commute, small-town charm, and affordable home prices make Morristown one of the best commuter towns in NJ.

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Weehawken, NJ

Ferry to NYC: 8 minutes

Weehawken is one of the best towns to commute to NYC from NJ.

It’s also one of the fastest NYC commuter towns on this list.

Located along the Hudson River with spectacular views of NYC, Weehawken is a quick 8-minute ferry ride to Midtown Manhattan!

Weehawken residents are lucky because they not only have one ferry terminal to NYC, but they have 2 ferry terminals to NYC- Port Imperial Ferry terminal and Lincoln Harbor Ferry terminal! The ferry ride from Port Imperial Ferry Terminal to Midtown Manhattan is just 8 minutes while the ferry ride from Lincoln Harbor Ferry Terminal to Midtown Manhattan takes 13 minutes because it stops in Hoboken.

Aside from the quick commute and breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, Weehawken residents also have easy access to shopping, dining, and waterfront parks, pools and boardwalk.

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Jersey City, NJ

Median Sale Price: $635,000

Ferry to NYC: 8 minutes (Paulus Hook to Wall Street)

PATH Train to NYC: 9 minutes (Newport to Christopher Street)

Jersey City is one of the best commuter towns in NJ. Located across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan, Jersey City is one of the best cities to commute to NYC.

One of the main reasons Jersey City is one of the best commuter towns is because there are many direct transportation options to NYC.

The PATH train, which runs 24/7, connects Jersey City to both Midtown and Downtown Manhattan.

From Jersey City’s Newport PATH station, you can get into Manhattan’s Christopher Street in 9 minutes and to Midtown 33rd Street in 16 minutes!

Ferry service to NYC is also available from Jersey City. From the Paulus Hook Ferry terminal, you can get to Wall Street from Jersey City in just 8 minutes!

Commuting to NYC is easy from Jersey City because there are 3 PATH train stations in Jersey City and 2 Ferry terminals. No matter where you live in Jersey City, you are not too far from a PATH or Ferry terminal.

Plus there are also many NJ Transit buses to NYC from Jersey City as well.

Jersey City is also more than just a commuter town – it has a bustling downtown with a vibrant nightlife with lots of restaurants, and bars.

Additionally, Jersey City has lots of parks and splash pads. The most popular Jersey City park is Liberty State Park, a large park with amazing views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

In fact, that’s where you go to get on the ferry to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island! Plus Liberty State Park is home to one of the best science museums in the tri-state area, the Liberty Science Center.

Madison, NJ

Median Sale Price: $749,000

Train to NYC: 52 minutes (Madison station)

Madison is a commuter town in NJ with a small-town vibe. In our opinion, it is one of the most charming commuter towns in NJ.

Madison is ideal for NYC commuters because there is a train station right in town. It’s also an NJ town with direct trains to NYC- no need to transfer trains! The train ride from Madison to Manhattan’s Penn Station is 52 minutes.

But the appeal of Madison goes far beyond its easy commute to NYC. It’s a NJ commuter town with a small-town vibe and gilded-age historical buildings.

In fact, the Madison train station is housed in a historical building.

Downtown Madison is full of shops, restaurants and cafes. Including the Snooki Shop, a women’s apparel and accessories boutique owned by Jersey Shore’s star Snooki.

There are also a lot of parks and playgrounds in Madison making it family friendly commuter town.

The median sale price of homes in Madison, NJ is $749,000.

Teaneck, NJ

Bus to NYC: 29 minutes to Port Authority (Bus 167)

Teaneck is one of the best New Jersey commuter towns.

For commuters, Teaneck’s location is a huge advantage. Located near George Washington Bridge, there are many NJ transit bus routes in Teaneck.

And it is conveniently located near several major highways for a direct route into the city.

As a result, it only takes 29 minutes from Teaneck to NYC’s Port Authority Bus Terminal on bus 167.

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