Where to Live in NJ for Midtown Biglaw? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi, all. I am graduating in '22 and will have to move to the NYC area for my job. I come from a pretty rural area and want to be away from the big city life. I really don't mind a long commute (especially with WFH policies being pretty lax). Any recommendations for NJ towns that have a midwest/rural feel? (I know none will likely come close but just looking for as close as I can get). Thanks!

[BigRed2019]

No shortage of suburban towns with trains that run direct(ish) to Penn Station or busses to Port Authority.

For trains, if you open the NJ transit map you'll see trains from the north route through Secaucus and anything from the south or west gets routed through Newark. I believe most of these are a one-seat commute to NYP.

General rule of thumb: the further you get from NYC, the more rural it will be. Too many towns to list but happy to get into more detail over PM.

As a first year, I'd be wary of living too far out and having a lengthy commute. It's not just the time, it's the amount of work that will stack up on you. Many of these towns will be over an hour each way, even if everything is running smoothly.

[The Lsat Airbender]

I really don't mind a long commute

Are you sure? If you're not already familiar with the NYC metro (which you aren't, if you're asking this question) I'd just bite the bullet and live in Manhattan/Brooklyn, near a subway line, your first year. Start looking for a house to buy immediately, if you want to get to the burbs ASAP, but the first year is going to be a big adjustment. Knowing the car service will get you home in 20-30 mins makes it way less shitty to be stuck in the office late at night.

[Anonymous User]

How come you’re searching in NJ only? What about NY (northern Westchester or Putnam counties) or CT? IDK much about Long Island.

IMO, no town that has a rail connection to NYC will have a “midwest/rural“ vibe.

[Dcc617]

Spots like Rahway may be the closest to what you’re looking for

[Elston Gunn]

How come you’re searching in NJ only? What about NY (northern Westchester or Putnam counties) or CT? IDK much about Long Island.

IMO, no town that has a rail connection to NYC will have a “midwest/rural“ vibe.

Not strictly true, but might as well be. I grew up in a Jersey area with a distinctly rural vibe (though it was definitely not the Midwest!), and there was an easy connection to the city. Only problem was it took an hour and 45 minutes door to door .

OP I agree with others that you should really live in the city your first year. If you develop a good reputation and a good feel for their WFH policies and feel like you can move to the burbs/exurbs after that, then that’s great, but it would be a big risk your first year.

[blackmamba8]

I think Maplewood has a not terrible train commute into the city

[Anonymous User]

You can also consider Hoboken or Jersey City, for what it's worth. I'm in JC and depending on where your office is, the PATH/ferry could have you there faster than some colleagues who live in NYC.

It's also easier to have a car and escape to more rural areas on weekends.

And you get to avoid the NYC resident tax.

[Elston Gunn]

I think Maplewood has a not terrible train commute into the city

Maplewood is not at all rural though. I guess it would be less of a shock to OP than Brooklyn.

[Anonymous User]

You can also consider Hoboken or Jersey City, for what it's worth. I'm in JC and depending on where your office is, the PATH/ferry could have you there faster than some colleagues who live in NYC.

It's also easier to have a car and escape to more rural areas on weekends.

And you get to avoid the NYC resident tax.

Hoboken/JC are definitely the popular Hudson County options for young professionals, but definitely are more of an urban/city vibe (at least in Downtown Jersey City). Weehawken (up on the bluffs) actually has a lot more of a suburban feel for Hudson county (not like a Maplewood, Montclair, Summit, etc. and definitely not rural, but there are houses with actual yards and nice views of the city). Definitely a bit more of an off-the radar option, but your money will go further than Hoboken/JC and the commute is actually faster to midtown via bus/ferry/car home in the evening.

[Anonymous User]

An apartment in close proximity to a ferry that lands at 39th/12th in the link below with some regularity might work. I know a few folks who seemed to like it as first years.

https://www.nywaterway.com/MidtownW39thTerminal.aspx

[Anonymous User]

To piggyback, anyone have similar recommendations if working in FiDi? Is a commute around an hourish or so doable?

[kaiser]

I think Maplewood has a not terrible train commute into the city

I just moved to South Orange, which is right next to Maplewood. And one of the reasons is the short commute. The express train runs direct in only 30 minutes to Penn Station. Plus Maplewood and South Orange are great towns, and there are tons of folks who came there from NYC since it has many of the things they liked the most about the city.

[notinbiglaw]

This is almost entirely dictated by what your midtown location is close to. For example, if you’re near 30 Rock, going from Port Authority to 30 rock adds a lot to your commute.

Look at the major transport hubs within a few minutes of your work place and go from there.

Anytime you rely on the bus, you have to leave pretty early to account for potential traffic. That is such an issue you have associates planning to arrive in Manhattan by 6:30 so they skip gym instead of arrive at work late if traffic is bad. This is a bigger issue when you’re coming in from NJ.

[notinbiglaw]

To piggyback, anyone have similar recommendations if working in FiDi? Is a commute around an hourish or so doable?

On weekdays, PATH will get you to WTC station from Newark in less than 40 minutes. Under 20 minutes from Newport.

[Pomeranian]

If you're considering NJ, might as well consider Westchester/Fairfield as well. Express trains from places like White Plains are 30 minutes to Grand Central (Midtown).