Bayonne

Jutting out into the Upper Bay, the neighborhood of Bayonne is a unique extension of the Jersey City region. Due to its strategic location, it became a port for trade between America and Europe, and it still maintains docks and ships along the water. There’s a strong sense that Bayonne wants to move into the entertainment economy, too: in May 2024, the state’s Economic Development Authority approved a $1 billion project that will bring a television and movie studio complex to a former oil refinery site. “They have been doing a lot of development on Bayonne’s waterfront,” says Westley Page, sales associate with Brown Harris Stevens. “Next they’re working on putting in a ferry to Manhattan. Already it’s a popular place due to more competitive prices, compared to Downtown Jersey City.” Filled with views and recently added retail amenities, Bayonne is a neighborhood that appeals to those who want to be surrounded by a sense of growth. Bayonne’s residential area is laid out like a grid, stretching from 58th Street on the east end over to 32nd Street. Visually, there’s a strong colonial element to housing styles here, with sharply gabled roofs and covered front porches. Befitting Bayonne’s location on the water, there are coastal touches like cedar shingle siding. Color palettes create a soothing environment– slate blues, tans, light greys and yellows. Brick accents are common, too, whether on stoops or entire lower levels, adding an eclectic look to Bayonne. Prices range from the high $400,000s to the high $800,000s. Homes at the early end of that range, it’s possible to see vinyl colonial homes with three bedrooms, situated on a tree-lined street and a concrete pad that allows space to park a car. But homebuyers are likely to see brick four-bedroom colonials with lawns, hedges and detached garages when approaching the $800,000 mark. The neighborhood’s crime score on the CAP Index is 3 out of 10. While there are a few eateries along Avenue C, the bulk of them are clustered along Broadway Avenue, where the choices are decidedly cosmopolitan. Dominican restaurants appear often, but there’s Mexican, Spanish and Lebanese cuisine, too. Pizza places, cafes and bars provide several lowkey, casual options. Broadway Diner feels like a classic New Jersey experience, with its leather booths and 24/7 schedule. There’s another side to Bayonne, too, with larger outlets sharing the spotlight. “You’re starting to see more chains opening up there, but sporadically, like poke bowl places,” says Tamayo Oppenheimer, Realtor with Silver and Oak Realty, referring to a dish of diced raw fish usually tossed with a sauce and vegetables. “You’ll also encounter well-known names like Lowe’s and Costco. Generally, once you get into Bayonne, the stores become bigger.” Other places to pick up groceries include Shop Rite, Lidl and the Aqui Market located at the end of Broadway in the Twin City Shopping Center, across from Walgreens. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade brings out residents with Irish dancing and corned beef sandwiches. Music on Broadway occurs in May, where pop up concerts are held along Bayonne’s restaurant row. Warmer weather also brings events like the Bayonne Food Truck Fest, which features live music, a beer garden and activities for kids. The Bayonne Farmers Market is open every Tuesday afternoon starting in the spring, on Avenue C. Students can begin their education at Washington Community School, which covers kindergarten through 8th grade. The student-teacher ratio is 11-to-1, and the school earns a B-minus rating from Niche. Built in 1936, Bayonne High has a monumental brick and stone façade. It earns a B rating, and has several unique amenities, like an ice rink for hockey – the only one to be featured in a New Jersey high school. The school has also been the site for several music videos. Down the street from Bayonne High is one of the neighborhood’s most notable pieces of architecture, the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church: with over 40 stained glass windows made in Dublin, this granite building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is an active parish. Park space in Bayonne is concentrated on the north side, facing Newark Bay. Most of this area is taken up by Gregg Park, which spreads across 100 acres. Many athletic facilities are available so that visitors can play basketball, pickleball, tennis and bocce. A bright blue running track adds another active element. Kids have access to a playground and, in the summer, a spray pad. Gregg Park is equally a place to lounge and relax – fishers will be seen casting their lines into the bay. Perhaps one of the most popular uses is taking a stroll on the paved paths, enjoying the ornate stone structures that offer shade and a place to catch one’s breath. Bayonne’s light rail station on 45th Street is often mentioned as a prime amenity for commuters. But with Route 44o and Interstate 78 wrapping around the neighborhood, drivers have direct access to key routes. The former leads to the Bayonne Bridge, while the latter takes drivers to Central Park in about an hour. Within the neighborhood itself, buses along Avenue C ensure that commercial corridors can be explored via public transportation.

Constable Hook serves as Bayonne's thriving downtown area at the southern tip of New Jersey’s urbanized Hudson County. With popular restaurants lining Broadway, riverfront parks bringing friends and families together during the summer, the Bayonne Bridge providing easy access to Staten Island and the rest of New York City, and pockets of retail and shopping, this neighborhood stands out as a hub of both activities and conveniences in densely packed North Jersey. “The proximity to NYC might be the obvious allure when describing the neighborhood,” Beverly Caraballo, a Realtor at Weichert Realtors says. “However, it can't be overlooked that some of the most beautiful beaches on the East Coast can be found at the Jersey Shore only 30 miles South and the Pocono Mountains a little over an hour drive to your west.” “Homes styles are diverse in Constable Hook,” Caraballo says. “They range from 1920's Victorians, row homes and contemporary styles, with the occasional Tudor or Craftsman mixed in.” These homes have sold for as low as $300,000 and gone for as much as $999,000. Condominiums are also available in the neighborhood and have gone for as low as $110,000 for a 1-bathroom studio condo and up to $680,000 for a move-in ready 3-bedroom with a 3-car garage. The neighborhood is flanked by sidewalks, making getting around on foot easy. As for crime, the CAP Index gave Constable Hook a Crime Score of 3 out of 10, lower than the national average. Constable Hook is also notable for its wealth of retail options. There’s a Wal-Mart Supercenter in the neighborhood for grocery shopping and everyday essentials. The Bayonne Crossing mall serves as the retail heart of Constable Hook, with big-name stores such as Michaels, Lowe’s and AutoZone, attracting customers from across city and state boundaries. In addition, local dining establishments such as El Aguila Dorada add to the neighborhood. “It is the best Mexican food I have ever tasted,” Caraballo says. “They just opened their second location a few years ago on Broadway and 19th St with a large dining room, full bar and outdoor patio. Order the Chorizo Queso and a Jalapeno Margarita.” Right down the street is Alkofeia Restaurant, which residents enjoy for its various Middle Eastern platter options. “We have several festivals throughout the year throughout town,” Caraballo says. “One of them is a series put on by the Bayonne Department of Recreation called Summer Sounds by the Bay Concerts. They feature live music each week throughout July and August at 16th Street Park at the amphitheater stage overlooking the Newark Bay with the most phenomenal sunsets.” Among the countless community events is the Buddy Baseball Opening Day Parade, which takes place every May and celebrates the special needs baseball league created by the Department of Recreation. Bayonne’s students attend one of eleven K-8 schools and Bayonne High School, the alma mater of the acclaimed stage and film actor Frank Langella, a chairman of the Federal Reserve, and several notable politicians and creatives. Two kindergarten through eighth grade options are John M. Bailey No. 12 Elementary School and Lincoln Community School, both of which earned a B-minus grade from Niche. Bayonne High School received a B grade from Niche. Residents enjoy getting active at DiDomenico Park, which includes a basketball court, playground and baseball field, among other sporty attractions, while Dennis P. Collins Park – embracing the Kill Van Kull across from Staten Island – includes a roller hockey rink, a beach volleyball court, and even a dog park within its great width. A significant benefit of living in Constable Hook is its proximity to New York City and Newark Airport. Residents can get on the light rail from the 22nd Street Station, connected by the PATH train in Jersey City, which will take people right into New York City. Residents can also use NJ Transit’s bus system using one of the many bus stations in the neighborhood. For commuters, Manhattan is a 14-mile drive, but traffic may make public transportation the more attractive option. Residents looking to fly to another city can make the 8-mile drive to Liberty Newark International Airport. Bayonne Medical Center is less than a mile away from the neighborhood for medical attention. Golfers in Constable Hook don’t have to leave the neighborhood to hit the links. Bayonne Golf Club is a waterfront course located in the northeast portion of the neighborhood. The course is paired with a club, a clubhouse and more. The club is member-only and new members must be invited.