Guides · Sky Realty Associates
Moving from New York City to New Jersey
Every year thousands of New Yorkers cross the Hudson for more space for the money, without giving up the city. Here is what rent, home prices and the commute look like in the towns closest to Manhattan, using the same public Census figures for every town.
Updated October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
Rent, home prices and commute: New York City and nearby New Jersey towns
| Place | Median rent | Median home value | Average trip to work | Property tax (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $1,779 | $751,700 | 41 min | - |
| Newark, NJ | $1,330 | $337,800 | 33 min | 1.845% |
| Harrison, NJ | $2,073 | $450,800 | 37 min | 1.704% |
| Kearny, NJ | $1,649 | $431,700 | 33 min | 1.985% |
| Bayonne, NJ | $1,593 | $446,100 | 34 min | 1.987% |
| Elizabeth, NJ | $1,463 | $393,500 | 27 min | 2.113% |
| Union City, NJ | $1,489 | $446,800 | 33 min | 1.859% |
| North Bergen, NJ | $1,702 | $466,800 | 33 min | 1.661% |
| Jersey City, NJ | $1,902 | $534,500 | 37 min | 1.847% |
| Hoboken, NJ | $2,819 | $872,100 | 37 min | 1.07% |
| Weehawken, NJ | $2,422 | $875,300 | 36 min | 1.853% |
Rent, value and commute: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2019-2023 (New York city) and the same survey for each New Jersey town. Property tax: New Jersey Division of Taxation, 2025 effective rates (yearly tax as a percent of market value; New York City is not shown because its property tax works differently).
What your money buys
The table below compares New York City with towns near Manhattan. In Newark, Elizabeth, Union City, Bayonne, Kearny and North Bergen the median rent and the median home value are both below New York City. Harrison, Jersey City, Weehawken and Hoboken have a higher median rent than New York City, and Hoboken and Weehawken also have a higher median home value - people choose them for the short trip to Manhattan.
These are medians for whole towns. Prices on the market today can be higher or lower, so ask one of our agents what a specific building or street costs right now.
Getting to Manhattan
PATH trains connect Newark Penn Station, Harrison, Journal Square, Grove Street, Exchange Place and Hoboken with the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan or 33rd Street in Midtown, depending on the line.
NJ Transit trains run to New York Penn Station from Newark Penn, Secaucus Junction and many other stations, and NJ Transit buses run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
NY Waterway ferries cross from Hoboken, Weehawken and Jersey City to Midtown and Lower Manhattan.
Check current schedules and fares with PATH, NJ Transit and NY Waterway before you choose a street - the walk to the station matters as much as the town.
Taxes: what changes
If you live in New Jersey you do not pay New York City's resident income tax. If you still work in New York, New York State taxes the wages you earn there, and New Jersey gives you a credit for that tax on your New Jersey return.
Property taxes in New Jersey are among the highest in the country and differ a lot from town to town. Every town page on this site shows the town's official 2025 property tax rate.
Taxes depend on your own situation - talk to a tax professional before you decide.
How Sky Realty helps
Our office is in Newark's Ironbound, one PATH stop from Harrison and a short ride from Jersey City. Our agents speak English, Spanish and Portuguese and can show you rentals and homes for sale in any of these towns, often the same day.
Questions people ask
Is it cheaper to live in New Jersey than New York City?
In many towns near Manhattan, yes: Newark, Elizabeth, Union City, Bayonne, Kearny and North Bergen have a lower median rent and home value than New York City. Harrison, Jersey City, Weehawken and Hoboken have a higher median rent than New York City. Property taxes in New Jersey are high, so compare the full monthly cost.
Do New Jersey residents pay New York City income tax?
No. The New York City personal income tax applies to New York City residents. New Jersey residents who work in New York pay New York State tax on those wages and get a credit on their New Jersey return.
How do I commute from New Jersey to Manhattan?
By PATH train (Newark, Harrison, Jersey City, Hoboken), NJ Transit train or bus, or NY Waterway ferry (Hoboken, Weehawken, Jersey City).