7 NJ Suburbs Perfect For a Commuter

These New Jersey towns offer the best combination of livability and proximity to New York City.

For many individuals, one major downside to working on Manhattan Island is the commute into the office. Whether by car, bus, or train, the trip to and from the city can prove both tedious and time-consuming. 

However, find the right home, in the right community, and with a commute suited to your particular tolerance for traffic and people, and it's a recipe for the perfect work-life balance.

With that in mind, here are seven New Jersey suburbs that are perfect for a commuter.

Bergenfield

Time to Upper Manhattan

Via Public Transportation: 51 minutes 

Via Car: 26 minutes

If you don't mind trading a longer New York City commute for safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, and attractive and affordable housing options, you won't find too many options better than Bergenfield. Regularly celebrated as one of the safest communities in the nation (NeighborhoodScout ranks the town fourth), the trip into the city isn't too cumbersome, even at the height of rush hour—26 minutes by car, 51 minutes when taking public transportation. 

Englewood

Time to Upper Manhattan

Via Public Transportation: 29 minutes 

Via Car: 19 minutes

Urban-suburban Englewood is ideal for those who don't want to leave the city behind when they're done with work Shopping, dining, and plenty of outdoor space, including the 150-acre Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, provide the city a vibrancy that more remote towns lack. Diverse, upscale housing is also a draw for professionals just starting out or on the upswing of their careers. The commute isn't too long either, since the area has direct access to the George Washington Bridge.

Paramus 

Time to Upper Manhattan

Via Public Transportation: 48 minutes 

Via Car: 30 minutes

Suburban Paramus, located in the heart of Bergen County, is a shopper's delight. Three malls—  Garden State Plaza, The Outlets at Bergen Town Center, and Paramus Park—call the borough home. Coupled with the area's attractive tax rates and abundance of restaurants and bars driven by the retail presence, it's a great place to spend your nights and weekends. Its central location also translates into a straightforward trip into New York—30 minutes by car, 18 minutes longer via public bus or train.

Ridgewood

Time to Upper Manhattan

Via Public Transportation: 75 minutes 

Via Car: 36 minutes

Tree-lined avenues and a walkable downtown district are just a couple of the attractions this quaint little town of 25,000 offers to commuting residents. While a bit further from New York than other Bergen County towns—a little over half an hour by car and an hour via public commute—the highly-rated schools and upscale, luxurious homes prove a fair trade-off. It's ideal for those able to work from home two to three days per week.

River Edge

Time to Upper Manhattan

Via Public Transportation: 30 minutes 

Via Car: 27 minutes

If it's a bucolic, sleepy small-town life you seek, there's nowhere else you'd rather be than River Edge, New Jersey. Not much happens in River Edge, a Bergen County borough of fewer than 12,000 residents, and that is purely by design. Next door, Paramus provides all the excitement and amenities one could need. In River Edge, there's no urbanization—just great housing, a high standard of living, and a commute into New York that's around half an hour.

Teaneck

Time to Upper Manhattan

Via Public Transportation: 27 minutes 

Via Car: 19 minutes

Historic Teaneck, New Jersey, offers residents plenty of rustic, small-town charm without the remoteness that usually accompanies such locales. Situated in Northern Bergen County, Teaneck boasts 250 acres of park space and a vibrant art and cultural scene. Its proximity to both the George Washington Bridge and the Lincoln Tunnel is a huge draw for commuters who eschews public transportation. But those without such misgivings will find an amenable public ride into the city in under an hour.

Woodcliff Lake 

Time to Upper Manhattan

Via Public Transportation: 50 minutes 

Via Car: 36 minutes

For those who do appreciate a more remote lifestyle, Woodcliff Lake is located near the northernmost portion of Bergen County. Small compared to surrounding communities—the population hovers around 6,500 residents—the area is decidedly upscale and includes a prominent business population, including BMW's North American Headquarters. There's also the 55-acre Wood Dale Park. Less than 20 miles from New York, the trip to and from home is achieved in well under an hour.

Are you interested in buying or selling a home in Bergen County? Or are you seeking more information on investment opportunities in the neighboring Manhattan or Upper Manhattan real estate markets? Contact Levy Tewel of Compass today. It would be my pleasure to help you navigate the process.