Jersey City is becoming an extension of Manhattan, with the nickname "Wall Street West"
Jersey City’s walkable downtown is one of the top features that residents associate with the city, but possibilities extend from there, whether it’s shopping at the tri-level Newport Centre mall or exploring the 1,200-acre Liberty State Park. This urban community sits on the Hudson River, facing the spoils of New York City, but “you actually find a lot of homebuyers coming over from Manhattan,” says Westley Page, sales associate with Brown Harris Stevens. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the city added 30,000 residents from 2014 to 2020. The median age is 35.
Page mentions that Jersey City is a natural choice for many who work in Manhattan because of the easy commute, but also because the city is taking off with new retail, restaurant and cultural destinations. “There’s a huge transformation happening,” he says. In fact, 2023 brought initial construction for One Journal Square, where a pair of 64-story residential buildings will be supported by 40,000 square feet of retail tenants, including Target – and it all sits next to a coveted commuter PATH station. Several other similar towers are going up. In June 2024, the mayor announced that The Pompidou, a Paris-based art museum, will open a satellite location in the city.
Already, when discussing the local economy, there’s a nickname for Jersey City: People call it “Wall Street West.” The roll call of leading employers reads like a list of blue-chip stocks. It includes Ernst & Young, Goldman Sachs, Omnicom and Forbes.
Jersey City is an urban community on the Hudson River, facing the spoils of New York City
The vast roll call of Jersey City's leading employers reads like a list of blue-chip stocks.
Jersey City's transformation to a new retail, restaurant and cultural destination is underway.
Jersey City is a natural choice for those who work in Manhattan because of the simple commute.
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High rises, historic brownstones and detached Victorian mansions
One of the appeals of Jersey City is that housing can trend either modern or historic. In the Paulus Hook district, it’s possible to find properties dating back to the Civil War. External materials like red brick and brownstone are prominent, while interiors are often renovated. But high-rise condo units that emphasize glass are also part of the mix. Daniel Pelosi, associate broker with Weichert Realtors, calls it a diverse inventory that “gives first-time homeowners the chance to really start building their wealth.”
Trendy areas like the Powerhouse Arts District are located next to light rail stops. But it's worth noting that, despite Jersey City’s urban ambiance, the housing includes detached single-owner homes. In the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood, Victorian mansions appear. In the Greenville neighborhood, colonial-influenced styles from the early 20th century show up.
Many times, homebuyers will seek out a particular street, rather than a neighborhood, says Tamayo Oppenheimer, a Realtor with Silver and Oak Realty. “Communipaw Avenue is definitely booming,” she says. “It’s a really cute area with a lot of foot traffic, there are brownstones and trendy places to eat,” she says. “The intersection of Communipaw and Pacific Avenue is definitely cheaper than downtown, too.” And then there are occasions when price isn’t even a consideration. “I have buyers approaching me about the McGinley Square neighborhood, saying to call them about anything that opens on Bentley Avenue, no matter what the price is,” she says.
In September 2024, the median price for a home in Jersey City was $749, 900. The national median is $416,700.
Unique gems such as this Victorian era, Second Empire style home can be found in Jersey City.
Rows of red brick and brownstone homes in Jersey City are prominent and often renovated.
In September 2024, the median price for a home in Jersey City was $749,900.
One of the strongest appeals of Jersey City is that housing can trend either modern or historic.
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Green space is easy to find
The Jersey City School District is rated B-minus overall by Niche. McNair High, which is rated A-plus, partners with Henry Snyder High to offer an arts-intensive course of study. There are private school options, too, like the co-ed Hudson Catholic Regional High. Religious education options include Saint Dominic Academy, an all-girls Catholic school covering seventh through 12th grade.
Higher education is also a feature of this city. Saint Peter’s University is a private institution with undergraduate and graduate programs. For a public college, there’s New Jersey City University, which enrolls about 7,500 students – double that of Saint Peter’s attendance. Hudson Community College is next to the Journal Square train station. It’s known for a nationally recognized five-story Culinary Arts Institute.
McNair Academic High School is a magnate public High School in Downtown Jersey City, NJ.
Lincoln High school earns an overall score of C- on Niche.
Hudson Catholic Regional High School earns an overall A- grade on Niche.
Saint Dominic's Academy is located in Bergen-Lafayette..
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The PATH train system is considered a key amenity
“People move here because they can be near train stations, especially the PATH system, or the light rail as a second choice,” says Oppenheimer. The Grove Street station downtown in particular is popular because it’s couched in retail destinations, making it extra convenient. “It’ll take you to the World Trade Center in six minutes,” she says. But that’s not the only way to New York City. “Commuters might just take the Holland Tunnel,” says Page. It’s just a 15-minute drive to the Soho neighborhood in Manhattan. “Or they can take the ferry,” he says. The ferry takes less than 15 minutes to get from Liberty Landing Marina in Liberty State Park over to the World Trade Center. In 2024, an adult one-way ticket is $10. Newark Liberty International Airport can be reached in about 15 minutes.
Manhattan is near all manner of after-work destinations for a quick drink before jumping back on the PATH. The Public Hotel features a rooftop happy hour from 5-7 p.m., and on Fridays there’s free admission to The Whitney, which has its own rooftop views.
Liberty State Park is the place for riverfront views
In Jersey City, parks serve the unique function of helping residents celebrate their preferred lifestyle. Hamilton Park, a few blocks back from the bustle of Newport Centre mall, is an ideal place for urban warriors to find a moment of leisure. Van Vorst Park on the other hand, with its dog park and proximity to trendy eateries, is known as a place to catch up and mingle. Berry Lane Park is big with skaters, especially after skateboarding superstar Tony Hawk threw his investment behind the facility. Lincoln Park is chock full of athletic facilities: It contains 21 tennis courts, seven ballfields, five basketball courts and two football fields. And then there’s the massive Liberty State Park, which is “more about picnic tables and views,” says Oppenheimer.
Liberty State Park is a vast area with the most incredible picnic views in all of Jersey City.
Berry Lane Park is the jewel in the crown of Jersey City's fantastic, popular public parks.
Hamilton Park an ideal place for urban warriors to find moments of leisure in Jersey City.
Jersey City's massive Lincoln Park has ample pickleball and tennis courts available to reserve.
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There's a strong artsy angle to the city, with plenty of annual events
Even though New York City boasts world-class destinations like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, there are plenty of notable cultural venues in Jersey City. Liberty Science Center offers hands-on entertainment, plus the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere. Interactive culture continues at Luna de Papel, an all-ages center with arts and craft workshops.
Loew’s Jersey Theatre, a Spanish Baroque building from the 20s, is undergoing at $72 million renovation and is expected to be the city’s premier destination for plays, concerts and movies when it reopens in 2025.
Creative events include the Jersey City Art and Studio Tour every October, showcasing the work of over 1,000 artists. Warm weather brings out the Jersey City Jazz Festival in June. For a general all-around event with live music, beer gardens, artisan vendors and activities for kids, there’s the Downtown Street Fair, held every September.
The Jersey City Jazz Festival brings crowds of sashaying locals to Exchange Place, Jersey City.
Liberty Science Center and its planetarium has the premier tactile entertainment in Jersey City.
The All About Downtown Street Fair celebrates Jersey City's diverse culture with live music.
The historic Loew’s Jersey Theatre is undergoing a $72m renovation and due to reopen in 2025.
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A diverse dining scene, plus specialty grocery stores
For sampling the city’s cosmopolitan dining scene, one of the best places to go is downtown, along Newark Avenue. Vietnamese, Caribbean and Middle Eastern are some of the flavors to savor along this street. Vegetarian cuisine gets a shoutout at Pet Shop, known as a hangout for artistic types. But downtown isn’t the only place to find food – some gems like to hang out by themselves. Tucked next to offices on Summit Avenue, wanderers can find Korai Kitchen, a Bangladeshi restaurant with a James Beard Award semifinalist chef. “Razza on Grove is a nationally ranked pizza place,” says Page. “Or there’s Battello on the pier, giving you a view of Manhattan.”
While big-box stores and standard supermarkets are regularly scattered throughout, Jersey City is also known for having specialty options. Residents can find fresh produce at the Van Vorst Farmers Market, which runs from June to November. Food Story Natural Market opened to much fanfare in 2024. The 10,000-square-foot space is stocked with sushi and health food, plus imported items from Japan, Korea and China.
Pet Shop's live music and pub grub draws locals to Jersey City's pedestrianized Newark Ave.
Jersey City's vibrant food scene extends beyond downtown at local favorites like The Factory.
Battello's modern Italian restaurant sits on one of Jersey City's repurposed river piers.
Journal Square's Food Story Natural Market opened to much fanfare in Jersey City in 2024.
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Crime trends reveal a mixed bag
Jersey City is known for its humid summers and snowy winters, with snow mostly falling in January – on average, about 6.3 inches that month. April is the rainiest month, with about 3.2 inches annually.
According to FBI data, the city’s property and violent crime rates are below the national average. From 2014 to 2023, the police force added over 150 officers.
On average, homes in Jersey City, NJ sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Jersey City, NJ over the last 12 months is $785,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Former C-Suite Healthcare Technology Executive. Lived in Downtown Jersey City since 2014. Key distinction is my Concierge approach to both sellers and buyers. I handle all aspects of the process from start to finish. Dedicated Transactions Coordinator and Admin Assistant to handle the paperwork, hiring and scheduling third party vendors.
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