Check out Paulus Hook in JC. It's a beautiful area, ferries to Manhattan are right there, walkable to many restaurants in JC.

I second not moving to Weehawken, it can be so difficult leaving Weehawken via public transit for leisure and you’d definitely need a car living there. Hoboken is nice depending on which area you live in. Uptown Hoboken seems to be geared to couples and families like yourself while the lower portion is the younger single crowd. Downtown JC would be great for you guys. I enjoy the “Village” area a lot, its close to the action but far enough to avoid a bulk of the noise. Its also a bit cheaper as you go further away. Easier to find parking too. I love the NY boroughs but I find living there is hard plus having to pay an additional city tax, smaller living spaces, and just having no overall breathing room. Good luck if you do decide to move! Despite what people say, us Jersey folk can be very kind and welcoming.

Downtown JC hands down. I’m an early 40s very boring gay, too. I have lived downtown since 2016. My boyfriend and I love the quietness. I commute to manhattan seven days a week, and it’s no issue whatsoever. I often take the ferry. You can get a 1bd for 3.5k and have enough to save and vacation on your double salary. A 2bd for working from home will obviously cost more, but shop around. Maybe a building with work space would suffice.

Hoboken is a bit of a post-college-frat type of vibe in my opinion.

Downtown jersey city would definitely be a good fit for you. Not Weehawken. And I personally don’t prefer hoboken. Get out of Florida, ditch the cars, and go for it.

Weehawken is nice but its difficult to get around with no car. Plus your only option to get into the city would be a bus. Sounds like downtown JC and Hoboken are your best bets. NYC is easily accessible from both areas. Downtown JC (the further you are from a path) is a little lower in price. Only drawback about Hoboken is that you have a lot of drunk people on weekends since there are bars everywhere. In downtown JC, majority of bars are concentrated on Newark ave and the surrounding area. So if you live away from the street, it is quieter.

Downtown JC sometimes gets called the "sixth borough," but honestly that's not accurate. It's the third borough. Jersey City feels more like Manhattan and Brooklyn than the Bronx, Queens, or Staten Island do, and it's certainly closer to the heart of the city than those boroughs.

I love it here, so I might as well start with the downsides:

• If you're moving from Florida and haven't lived for protracted periods in the Northeast or Midwest, the climate is going to be an adjustment for sure. I know that "goes without saying," but my partner from Memphis still struggles to adjust 15+ years since moving up North.
• It seems like politics is part of the reason you're considering a move, so it's worth saying that politics in New Jersey generally and Jersey City in particular can be head-thumpingly frustrating if you're a motiated progressive who cares about multiple issues. Democrats rule unopposed here, and use their full-throated support of LGBTQIA+ rights, women's rights, and Black Lives Matter (on paper at least) to deflect from deeply corrupt commitments to machine-style politics you might have thought had died out some time after the Gilded Age. Shit like our county executive promising to end ICE detention centers in our county, and then going back on his word essentially in the dead of night for no better reason than wanting ICE cash. Our Mayor and his hand-picked slate of City Council people making land use decisions on behalf of developers that don't seem to benefit the community, and then magically getting millions of dollars of in-kind contributions like mansions on the coast from those same developers. Don't even get me started on the long-running scheme to raze a sensitive bird habitat in Jersey City's largest park so that a billionaire buddy of the governor can turn it into golf holes for the ultra-wealthy (see: Caven Point, Paul Fireman, for more information). Point being, if you want to live somewhere to experience the idea that liberal Democrats can run communities that are not only inclusive, but also equitable and well-governed, this is not the place for that, our leaders are too addicted to developer money. Maybe coming from Florida this sounds like a relatively good problem to have, you'd know better.
• There is a very real social stigma against New Jersey, and not just coming from New Yorkers. Being relatively local, it's actually been pretty easy to get my NYC friends to realize "holy shit, Jersey City is closer and more convenient and more fun than most of what's 'real' New York." But I've been on the other side of the fucking country and had folks say something along the lines of "where ya from?" "New Jersey!" "I'm sorry." Again, being from Florida you may already be used to worse.
• Flooding is a serious concern. If you're not buying property I wouldn't worry too much, but if you're looking at renting a garden level place, make sure it's flood-proofed. And don't necessarily take a landlord's word for it.
• Crime is mostly non-violent, but hoo boy the porch pirates and drunk drivers can make life difficult. We get roughly half the packages we order, due to either package theft or delivery service incompetence. We have to street park our vehicle like most Jersey Citiots, and at this point we don't bother getting dings and dents repaired because there are just going to be more later.
• Speaking of cars, parking sucks. I'm torn on whether or not to recommend having a car, because you've mentioned wanting access to nature, and a car is the best way to ensure that (ironically enough). But since this is the "negatives," having to move your car for street-cleaning in the middle of the workday multiple times per week is just not fun.
• You're not going to love paying taxes in Jersey City coming from Florida.

Alright, positives:

• In terms of being a "true city," yes, downtown JC is about as "true city" as they come. I have lived in Boston, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Seattle, and now downtown JC, and JC compares highly favorably. MOST of my friends who live in New York City proper do not enjoy the density or proximity to services or attractions that I enjoy in downtown JC. And I'm not even considering my friends who live in Queens, I mean like brownstone Brooklyn or northern Manhattan.
• The best views of the NYC skyline are over here, where you can see the whole thing because you're not part of it.
• You do not need a car. You might want one, and unlike in Manhattan it is possible to have one, but you do not need one. We have a car, but I do not drive within the metro area, the car is only for longer, regional trips.
• There is plenty to do here. The restaurant scene is excellent, and I honestly can't think of a restaurant that doesn't have compelling vegan options. JC is small enough that it can really feel like a community, and there are events all the time. There are some performance spaces here, most notably White Eagle Hall that frequently hosts excellent acts, if not acts that would sell out stadiums. We basically only cross the Hudson to see friends or theater, maybe the occasional museum. For nightlife, the quality is higher and the prices are lower on this bank of the Hudson.
• And when you do want to get into Lower or Midtown Manhattan or even northwest Brooklyn, JC's a more convenient starting place than most of NYC.
• Your only problem being gay here will be people falling all over themselves to affirm your identity. One of my gay friends from rural Texas finds it mildly creepy how aggressively supportive everybody is regarding his sexuality.
• There is indeed decent nature not too awfully far away! We usually drive a couple hours' north to the Catskills for camping, hiking, etc., but you can actually take a train to a lot of these locations. . . though you'd almost certainly need a car on the other end unless you're extreme hikers. Also nice, a lot of these little rural towns just upstate along the Hudson are themselves highly progressive. Expect New York prices, unfortunately, but the nature is, in my opinion, top-notch. I could have more recommendations here, I camp a lot.
• Not quite "nature" as I envision it, but the parks here are beautiful and well-maintained. Lots of trees, flowers, frequent farmers' markets. And then Liberty State Park is a goddamned treasure, if we're willing to fight to keep it. If you're craving a closer-to-home nature experience, you could totally bring a book or a picnic to a JC park and get your hit of trees, grass, flowers, etc. Depending on the park, like Liberty or Lincoln, you could even enjoy some silence (not likely in Hamilton or Van Vorst).

Any other particular areas of concern?

Lots of good advice so far, Being in Hamilton Park for 25 years of course I'll recommend it, but I'd like to address the outdoors portion of your ask. It varies. With a car, there's mountains within 1-2 hrs to the N and NW, and nice more suburban parks closer. Even without a car you can take a train to Harriman State Park in NY, in addition to our city parks and Liberty State Park on the Harbor.

My outdoor thing is kayaking, and we live on a peninsula! There's all sorts of interesting places to paddle within a 20 minute drive, from the NY harbor and Statue of Liberty, to winding tidal creeks and reed mazes on the Hackensack River.

Lastly, about the 'is it worth it?'. That's up to what you make of it. There's people here who never go see theater, museums and music, whether in NYC or one of our great local venues and theater companies. Sad but true.

I just spent the whole day today in NYC, wandered around Chelsea, then to Union Square, and then ran down to Soho to do some errands and then home. It was amazing and a very quick trip from downtown JC. I used to live in Manhattan and it would take much longer to get to midtown/downtown from my apartment than it does from Jersey City, ironically. I would not do Weehawken, I think downtown JC is a much better place/vibe. Weehawken has THE most amazing views of NYC, but it is more of a sleepy suburb, in my opinion. In JC you can walk to everything, wander into shops and restaurants, and just truly enjoy city life, and then hop on the PATH to the city and be there in 10 minutes. I love both Paulus Hook and Hamilton Park for neighborhoods! Feel free to PM me if you want more info!

I actually do think it's worth it. To be clear, JC/Hoboken is different than living in Manhattan. If you were asking from the perspective of a Manhattanite, I would say to stay in Manhattan or come here understanding it'd be different.

BUT, in your situation, I think you'll have a great experience. Jersey City and Hoboken are walkable, non-car dependent, and have very neighborhood-y vibes (esp Hoboken), so you'll get that right in your neighborhood. And then, NYC is literally a stop or two away. I'm in NYC most days of the week and can hop over whenever somebody texts to hang out, etc.

Enjoy!

Journal Square is getting hot. Downtown is good but really expensive. Both will have you in NYC in 15 minutes.

I would definitely recommend it. How old are you? And how much do you like a “scene”? If you’re young, and like to party, Hoboken would be fun. If you’re a little more mature, I would definitely recommend downtown Jersey City. It has a great neighborhood feel, and very convenient into NYC.

Move to downtown JC, area near grove street path. Its amazing for city feel and commute is a breeze.

Journal square!

Highly suggest Jersey City! My husband and I moved here a few months ago from NC for many of the same reasons you have (and for a new job) and it’s been great. We go into the city around once a week. We’re near journal square and really like it here, but if you can afford it, Downtown JC seems even better. PATH has been great for me so far - I take PATH to and from work in Newark and when I want to go to NYC and I’ve found it to be extremely reliable.

If your intent is to experience nyc from nj without a car, you are talking about uptown (by the ferry), downtown (by the path) hoboken or downtown jersey city.

Your price point will dictate the rest

I think it’s definitely worth it in your case. Hudson County has among highest percentage of non-car owning households in the country.

Even if you don’t like it, it sounds like you don’t have much to lose. You make enough $ to afford a decent lifestyle here and you don’t even have to quit your jobs to move here. And your partner could probably get a decent pay bump if they decide to get an NYC-based job.

Worst case scenario is you decide to move when your lease is up and you’re out a few thousand $ in moving expenses.

Better to experiment now than later if you’re thinking of adopting a kid.

You probably won’t have a “true” NYC experience while living here, but it’s close enough given your circumstances. Keep in mind that you won’t even have easy access to NYC at all if you move anywhere else.

Avoid the Bro-scene and move to JC. Hamilton park, Van Vorst or similar might suit you. JC is more quiet, artsy and totally walkable. Hello fellow vegan also 👋 Hoboken is marginally better for vegan food than JC but many of those places will deliver or Uber Eats to JC and we do still have plenty of nice vegan places and vegan-friendly places! Most of them are downtown but there are also a few in the heights and a smattering in Journal/McGinley Sq.

Yes. But I would argue Jersey City is the best option based in access to New York.

Downtown Jc is verywalkable, I walk or bike everywhere. It’s not nyc, but it’s more of a home, and it’s super walkable, more than essentially any other place in America except other city centers. Great place to live. If you want nightlife two blocks away it’s not nyc. If you don’t need that it’s better IMO. If you want to b more in the center of specifically nyc then you are not going to get that.

But it checks north east walkable city vibes. So much so that when I go visit Florida or CA I am annoyed that I can’t walk places.

Just to give you an idea I am currently sending this on a bus heading back home to Parsippany just saw a show at canegie hall. Had a blast. Get out here and breathe it in if that is what you want.

Grew up near the path best experiences of my life.

I live in Jersey. Jersey is great, I prefer it. due to your age I think you will too. Also considering 215 total income, I would def prioritize cheaper housing.

But unfortunately, no, you will not get the true NYC experience by living in Jersey.

Newport, Grove Street, exchange place, journal square. Take a tour

I have lived in all three (and different parts of NYC)…

You do not want to live in Weehawken without a car. Or probably at all. It’s very residential. There is no real downtown (there is a section that is called “downtown” but it is not “A Downtown”). You could walk to Bergenline Ave in Union City for shops/restaurants but depends on where you are in Weehawken. You’d probably Uber to Hoboken and Jersey City. I

From Weehawken into NYC, you’ll take a ferry (and you’ll have to walk/uber to it) or more likely, a bus/jitney. On the NYC side, bus drops you at the Port Authority. Which I think might literally be hell on earth. And definitely not somewhere you want to commute through at 1am. (Again, talking from experience.)

From the Port Authority, you’re reasonable walking distance of restaurants in Hell’s Kitchen or Theatre District. That’s about it though. You’re not going to be hanging out in Times Sq or Garment District. So now you’ll have to take subway/cab to the parts of the city you actually want to hang out in. It’s a schlep.

Re: Hoboken. Like others have said, it skews young (post college), and finance bro. Though it has some redeemable qualities. Very walkable. Can easily live without a car; more easily than WITH a car. You can take PATH train to downtown JC or, when you take it to NYC, the stops are much more likely to be in neighborhoods you actually want to hang out in. Also path > subway is faster to Brooklyn than getting there from Weehawken.

Downtown JC is more diverse than Hoboken (but not as diverse as it used to be) and more the vibe you described. Same story with taking the PATH train directly to where you’re most likely hanging out.

Taking the PATH home on weekends and nights suuuucks. But Port Authority is way worse!

None will be a “true NYC experience” bc they are not NYC! They’re their own thing, just different. But they’re closer to NYC experiences than Florida. You should do it!

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Sounds like Hoboken is your best bet, in my opinion that’s the most connected area to NYC. However you won’t get the true NYC experience in NJ coming from someone who has lived both places. I prefer this side of the Hudson personally. The two states feel very different culturally despite being so connected life moves at a slower pace and people are more chill and easygoing, there’s not as much hustle and bustle. People who live in NYC will probably look down on you a bit and be reluctant to come visit you, and you will likely spend most of your time in NJ. You will however be close enough to hop into Manhattan whenever you like.

This sub tends to be very anti car but personally I wouldn’t move to most places in Hudson county without a car. It’s too convenient for me to have it to get around and do my errands with, even makes traveling to NYC late at night much easier. Hoboken is totally doable without a car and so is most of JC. NJT buses are good and often better than the rail. But I would recommend keeping your car when you move here even if you don’t use it every day, you can sell it later if you find it’s not worth keeping.

Not gonna lie: My 1st Thought: stay if Florida - we need your voting power. My 2nd Thought: yes, move for NYC and meantime, fall in love with JC.

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Downtown JC is the place to be imo. Really easy access to NYC, vegan food everywhere, lots of community events and places to work out super close by. I’d say it is worth it.

No.

Hoboken/JC would be fine. Based on your info, you could definitely do it for the liberal/vegan/mass transit experience for the short term. As you stated, easy access to the city. Lots of parks/stuff on the Jersey side. Sample it for a year or two to see if you like it. Lots of NYC folks have moved out to those areas themselves to get more space while still be connected to the city.

If you want a real city with real community, jersey city is the place. Hoboken is kinda filled with transient people who move there for the partying and the proximity to NYC.

All areas of jersey city have their pros and cons but anywhere downtown is accessible by public transportation and very walkable. Semi-bike friendly too

Just to add to what everyone else is saying, Downtown JC is great for vegans. My partner and I are both vegan and really enjoy the many all-vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in the local area.

And, of course, there’s plenty more in Manhattan to try.

I live in Jersey city and absolutely love it!!! I love being able to hop on the bus and go wherever I want! I can even get on the bus from in front of my house and go to NYC if I want.

Downtown JC. No question about it for what you are looking for. Closest you can get to NYC, least car dependent part of NJ (heights, weehawken etc no go), and chill vibe to do whatever you want. Very friendly and diverse

Boring 50s gay married couple here. I've lived in downtown JC for 16 years ... before that 18 years in Greenwich Village. I agree with all the posts recommending downtown JC for your needs and wants. It is walkable, non-car dependent, transit oriented, and personally I prefer NYC adjacent because at the end of the day, it's nice to leave the nonstop noise of the city behind and go home. And with your NJ licensing issue, NYC isn't a possibility.

My husband commutes 5 days a week to NYC on the Path. It's reliable and convenient, especially in rush hours when the trains are every few minutes. I'm in the city 2-3 times a week. Evenings and weekends are somewhat less convenient, but that doesn't stop us from going out in the city. Get the Path app and get to know the schedules for off hours and weekends. The ferry is a fun and fast alternative, especially if your destination is near the NYC waterfront (Tribeca, WTC, Financial District). But if you live near Grove Street, that might be a 20-minute walk to the JC waterfront to catch the ferry. Or a fast Citibike ride. (There's a Citibike bike share program here -- check out the Citibike app or site to see locations.)

Check out Subia's Cafe, Gaia & Loki, Salt & Seed, and like others have said, there are many more vegan options in JC or a short Path ride away in NYC.

The politics here are definitely more liberal than Florida, although the Democratic party machine, the nepotism, the self-dealing, and the developer money are extremely frustrating. I haven't heard about any book-banning here.

If you buy, be warned that property taxes are outrageously high.

Garden level apartments can be fantastic, especially having outdoor space in such proximity to the city. But the flood risk is real in certain neighborhoods, and not a problem at all in other neighborhoods. You'll want to check the specific address with the long-time residents here.

I'd suggest you get a one- or two-week short term rental in downtown JC and give it a trial run.

Worth it? Absolutely. Just know what you're getting into (cost of living being the primary consideration here).

Few things:

1. Forget Weehawken (with apologies to the Weehawken boosters in this sub). It's not what you're looking for in terms of vibe or convenience (The Pt. Authority bus station is the 10th circle of Hell).
2. JC is BIG. So you'll really want to limit your apt search to the areas within a short walk to the PATH. JC Heights is only a mile or two from DTJC, but in terms of commute/accessibility to NYC, it might as well be in another county (i.e., 10-15 mins vs 45-60 mins).
3. The "Hoboken Bro Vibe" is both real and overblown. Yes, the throngs of douchey bros (and the suburban white girls who love them) overrun Washington St. on weekends, but Uptown/West Side areas of Hoboken are quiet (and Hoboken really is lovely when it's not under water).
4. Bring good shoes. For lanternfly stompin'.

Boring late 20s partnered gay here. Will try not to rehash what others have said, but we moved to Van Vorst Park in downtown JC last year and have been extremely happy here. We moved from Manhattan after starting out our home search in Brooklyn.

The “NYC Experience” can mean many varying things depending on where you are in NYC. In terms of feel, VVP/Hamilton Park/DTJC will give you a similar vibe to Carrol Gardens, Fort Greene, Park Slope etc though perhaps in a less developed/sceney way (and with worse bagels). The food scene is of course better in these BK neighborhoods, though DTJC does have some stand outs and we’ve generally been happy with the food scene here. And we love Pint, our neighborhood gay bar.

You absolutely don’t need a car here and it actively makes your life more difficult if you use it in DTJC. We did just buy a car but for weekend hiking trips to the Hudson Valley / PA as well as trips to the shore (which is also fairly train accessible). I commute 5 days a week on the path and it’s more reliable and frequent than the F train I used to take during rush hour.

Downtown JC is your best bet. I moved to Weehawken earlier this year and I love it, bus service to Port Authority is very fast (10mins) and the buses are very frequent. Having said that, others here who warn against Weehawken are correct insofar as having a car greatly enhances your experience. And also it is much quieter than either JC or Hoboken, very residential.

At that salary, you may as well live in a happening part of Brooklyn

Hoboken would be your best bet if you are looking to be in NJ. Only select parts of Jersey City can give you a semi-carless experience and even that is an exaggeration.

In general, yes you can make this work and enjoy NYC. However, the path is a nightmare after 10:00 pm on the weekdays and a nightmare the entire weekend. Bus and Lightrail systems are unreliable. Hoboken/ JC dining and nightlife are nothing compared to NYC. Your combined salary could get you a pretty nice apartment in any borough of NYC. I highly recommend living in NYC over NJ for what you are looking for.

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Edit: Just noticed your job requires you to live in NJ. Aim for Hoboken.

No. If you want NYC live in NYC. JC is not a substitute