What’s the best part of Jersey City?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Jersey City are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Jersey City neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to New Jersey and Jersey City is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Jersey City for 2024? According to the most recent census data, The Waterfront looks to be the best Jersey City neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Jersey City that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Jersey City.
For more New Jersey reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In New Jersey
- Cheapest Places To Live In New Jersey
- Most Dangerous Cities In New Jersey
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Jersey City
Population: 14,428
Median Home Value: $793,950 (best)
Median Income: $172,200 (Second best)
More on The Waterfront: Data | Real Estate
Population: 38,783
Median Home Value: $772,881 (Second best)
Median Income: $133,134 (Third best)
More on Downtown: Data | Real Estate
Population: 618
Median Home Value: $601,300 (Third best)
Median Income: $182,926 (best)
More on Liberty Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 50,701
Median Home Value: $454,812 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $71,342 (Fifth best)
More on The Heights: Data | Real Estate
Population: 3,876
Median Home Value: $389,629 (Seventh best)
Median Income: $66,774 (Seventh best)
More on Hackensack Riverfront: Data | Real Estate
Population: 20,749
Median Home Value: $425,200 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $65,850 (Eighth best)
More on Mcginley Square: Data | Real Estate
Population: 1,019
Median Home Value: $349,550 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $77,231 (Fourth best)
More on Lincoln Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 26,826
Median Home Value: $408,459 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $64,553 (Ninth best)
More on Journal Square: Data | Real Estate
Population: 23,620
Median Home Value: $326,669 (11th best)
Median Income: $67,422 (Sixth best)
More on West Side: Data | Real Estate
Population: 22,642
Median Home Value: $366,400 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $46,054 (11th best)
More on Bergen-Lafayette: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Jersey City, NJ Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Jersey City, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 11 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Jersey City.” We’re lookin’ at you, The Waterfront.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Jersey City, New Jersey has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Jersey City.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Jersey City
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Jersey City where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Jersey City are The Waterfront, Downtown, Liberty Park, The Heights, Hackensack Riverfront, McGinley Square, Lincoln Park, Journal Square, West Side, and Bergen-Lafayette.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Jersey City aren’t all good. Greenville takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Jersey City.
The worst neighborhoods in Jersey City are Greenville, Bergen-Lafayette, West Side, Journal Square, and Lincoln Park.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more New Jersey reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Jersey City For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Waterfront | 14,428 | $793,950 | $172,200 |
| 2 | Downtown | 38,783 | $772,881 | $133,134 |
| 3 | Liberty Park | 618 | $601,300 | $182,926 |
| 4 | The Heights | 50,701 | $454,812 | $71,342 |
| 5 | Hackensack Riverfront | 3,876 | $389,629 | $66,774 |
| 6 | Mcginley Square | 20,749 | $425,200 | $65,850 |
| 7 | Lincoln Park | 1,019 | $349,550 | $77,231 |
| 8 | Journal Square | 26,826 | $408,459 | $64,553 |
| 9 | West Side | 23,620 | $326,669 | $67,422 |
| 10 | Bergen-Lafayette | 22,642 | $366,400 | $46,054 |
| 11 | Greenville | 48,963 | $337,270 | $63,375 |