Many residents in the northeastern United States face a similar conundrum: although we have the perfect job in New York City, we don’t exactly want the hassle of living in the city. New York City real estate is typically ridiculously overpriced. Not to mention, New York isn’t considered ideal for raising a family. The perfect solution is instead to move to a commuter town in nearby New Jersey. Over the bridge, you’ll find all that you’ve been looking for: beautiful neighborhoods, affordable prices, and easy access to public transportation. The following are the top five New Jersey cities for New York City commuters.

Menlo Park Terrace

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Menlo Park Terrace, found within Middlesex Township, is a few miles southwest of the more urbanized city of Newark. Since Menlo Park is famous for being the site of where Thomas Edison conducted his experiments, the most notable landmark is the Thomas Edison Center. The museum displays original artifacts and educational programs on Edison’s development of the light bulb and phonograph. Driving into the city shouldn’t take more than an hour, but you could also use the convenient Metuchen train station. The train station is only a few miles away from another Menlo Park attraction: the expansive Menlo Park Mall.  

Old Bridge

Cheesequake State Park / Photo by Miguel Vieira / CC BY

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Old Bridge is a mere 35 miles from Manhattan and easily accessible via I-95 North. Old Bridge has a Park & Ride service through NJ Transit—allowing commuters to take a bus directly into New York City. If you rather take the train, Matawan has the closest train station, which takes commuters to Penn Station. A few standout attractions in the town include Old Bridge Raceway Park, a popular destination for fans of drag racing, and Cheesequake State Park, one of the oldest parks in the country.

Sayreville

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Sayreville is another town commuters flock to in New Jersey due to its location less than 35 miles from the city. New Jersey Transit and Academy both offer bus service to New York with commuters leaving their vehicles at the Sayreville Park & Ride. Another option is to drive the short distance to the South Amboy train station. Sayreville has the distinction of being located on the Raritan River and being home to several popular attractions such as Kennedy Park and the Starland Ballroom.

Perth Amboy

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Perth Amboy is considered part of the greater New York City metropolitan area. The Perth Amboy train station has service directly into Penn Station in Manhattan. The Outerbridge Crossing in Perth Amboy is another option used by commuters traveling to the city. Since Perth Amboy is on the waterfront, boat tourism, and fishing charters are popular attractions. Condominium living are commonplace in Perth Amboy—meaning many area restaurants and bars are within convenient walking distance.

Lincroft

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Lincroft is slightly further than the previous towns—approximately 45 miles outside the city, but with quick access via the Garden State Parkway and I-95. Bus service is the quickest way to get into the city unless you want to take the New Jersey Coastline train from the neighboring Red Bank train station. Lincroft is a beautiful community with great schools—home to one of the state’s top-rated community colleges, Brookdale. Thompson Park and Big Brook Park are sizable recreational areas within the town.