Jersey City—Highlighting the Waterfront Neighborhood

BY ERIN McFEETERS

Jersey City boasts beautiful Manhattan skyline views, diverse neighborhoods, top-notch eats, and is a financial technology powerhouse. The city, dedicated to affordable housing, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability, is a great spot for both first-time buyers and families in need of more space.

The U.S. Census reports that a little more than 40 percent of Jersey City residents are foreign-born. “It’s very much diverse and very inclusive,” said Adam Weber, an employee at the Lokal Eatery & Bar, a restaurant sitting right on the Hudson River with picturesque panoramic Manhattan skyline views. Weber described the Lokal’s menu as comfort food favorites that bend the rules. It features French onion soup, fried ricotta gnocchi, and mac and cheese.

Jersey City has a small-town neighborhood feel but unmatched access to everything you need. You might think with more than 240,000 residents, you would feel lost in the crowd, but walking along brownstonelined streets and ivy-covered trees, there is a distinctly neighborhood feel.

But, the brownstones come with a cost. According to the November housing data from New Jersey Realtors®, the median sales price for townhouses and condos in Jersey City is $576,000, a 2 percent increase year to date. The single family market in Jersey City experienced quite a bit of growth in the past year with the median sales price at $491,250, an 12.9 percent increase year-to-date.

The substantial growth of Jersey City’s single family market aligns with much of Hudson County, which has grown more than the industry anticipated with an influx of residents packing their bags to leave Manhattan.

According to Choose NJ, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to bring more businesses into New Jersey, Jersey City has become the fin-tech capital of the U.S. The organization attributes this to its proximity to Wall Street, and more affordable housing than New York City.

Extremely convenient access to public transportation makes it the perfect spot for commuters planning to head back to their Manhattan office in the new year. While the diverse restaurants, quaint parks, and shops make it an option for potential buyers looking for a neighborhood with character.

For foodies looking for a new spot, Jersey City’s own Razza was ranked by the New York Times as New York’s best pizza…even though Razza calls the Garden State Home. Restaurants throughout the city are as diverse as its population—whether you’re visiting the Waterfront or visiting Liberty State Park for perfect views of Lady Liberty, it will not disappoint.

Weber recently moved to the area from out of state and had reservations about being in the city. “I’m not originally from here, so it can be a little bit scary,” said Weber. “But everyone has been super nice. Anywhere you go, anywhere you turn there is somebody willing to help you.”