Couple commuting to New Brunswick and Manhattan - where to go? (Edison: for rent, house)

[bdragger]

I've been searching these posts for seveal weeks, and I'm learning a lot, but I'd appreciate some direct feedback / guidance -

My fiancee and I are relocating from LA to the NY / NJ area in a couple months for an internship, so we're looking for that perfect cheap, safe, fun, place to live. We'd ideally like to find something like where we are now - Pasadena, CA - Here's what we need: cheap rent and access to cheap rail into the city's subway system (like $1.50?), some green space, restaurants, arts, and liberally-minded people.

Any options?

Also - we have an opportunity to rent a place in Highlands, NJ - beautifully remodeled house for $1500 a month, right next to the beach- but that's pretty far from the city, right?

I've also been reading about Hoboken and certain parts of downtown JC - near the Grove PATH station, for example - what does everyone think?

Last, should we keep our car? Can we ditch our cars? Gas is almost $4.75 a gallon out here in LA already!

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by bdragger

I've been searching these posts for seveal weeks, and I'm learning a lot, but I'd appreciate some direct feedback / guidance -

My fiancee and I are relocating from LA to the NY / NJ area in a couple months for an internship, so we're looking for that perfect cheap, safe, fun, place to live. We'd ideally like to find something like where we are now - Pasadena, CA - Here's what we need: cheap rent and access to cheap rail into the city's subway system (like $1.50?), some green space, restaurants, arts, and liberally-minded people.

Any options?

Also - we have an opportunity to rent a place in Highlands, NJ - beautifully remodeled house for $1500 a month, right next to the beach- but that's pretty far from the city, right?

I've also been reading about Hoboken and certain parts of downtown JC - near the Grove PATH station, for example - what does everyone think?

Last, should we keep our car? Can we ditch our cars? Gas is almost $4.75 a gallon out here in LA already!

Highlands is out cause it will cost a couple hundred just on the train to the city and then you will still have to pay the nyc transit $2 per ride

Hoboken and jersey city around grove are decent options

[Newarkbomb]

Well i know Woodbridge is pretty nice, its above perth amboy, im not sure if its especially cheap but they could have affordable places. Bayonne is pretty safe also, it's not the safest around but to talking cheap rent Bayonne is great. Hoboken, never has cheap rent... JC is alright but downtown is not easy to find cheap rent, and it is kind of far from New Brunswick.. Stantent island also if you kind find a decent priced area..
Hope this helps

DONT DITCH YOUR CAR, unless maybe you live in manhatten dont ditch your car.. i mean we have one of the cheapest gas prices but its still not cheap but, its better than CALI.. trust me, you will need it in the metro NYC area of NJ

and oh... 1500 a month for rent is a lot to me hah, thats my maximum price for 2 or 3bed.. but im lookin in bergen (south bergen/parts of essex)

[sank72]

Edison/Iselin/Woodbridge would be good choice. Rent for 1 betroom around $1100 and 2 bedroom around $1250

15 minutes car ride to New brunswick and also connected by train

40 minutes train ride into city (can also srive but expensive with toll and parking)

[jersey15]

Metuchen would be a good option. It's got a train station which will get you to both New Brunswick (probably 5 minutes via the train) and Manhatten. Nice town. Has a little downtown area with restaurants.