New York

Best New York suburbs for young professionals

Ranked on employment and income at 25%, amenities at 25%, commute at 20%, median rent at 15% (lower is better) and cost of living at 15%. Schools are not counted.

Updated Sep 2026·60 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
View of Hudson Street to the north, Hoboken, New Jersey.
Hoboken$895k median · 36.8 min commute
Employment A−Amenities A+Commute F
64
Score
overall 69 B−
2
Journal Square, Jersey City, New Jersey.
Jersey City$567k median · 36.8 min commute
Employment C−Amenities A+Commute F
61
Score
overall 53 C−
3
Downtown Westfield
Westfield$953k median · 36.7 min commute
Employment A−Amenities B+Commute F
60
Score
overall 70 B−
4
Radburn shopping center (Radburn Plaza Building?), near Radburn station, en:Fair Lawn, New Jersey.
Fair Lawn$565k median · 31.3 min commute
Employment CAmenities BCommute D
60
Score
overall 65 C+
5
The "Be Fort Lee" sign in Fort Lee Park, Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee$448k median · 35.0 min commute
Employment D+Amenities A+Commute D−
60
Score
overall 63 C+
6
New Brunswick, New Jersey, from the air in February 2026
New Brunswick$354k median · 23.3 min commute
Employment FAmenities ACommute C+
59
Score
overall 48 D+
7
Aerial view of Clifton, Passaic County, New Jersey from an airplane shortly after takeoff from Newark Liberty International Airport
Clifton$462k median · 28.3 min commute
Employment DAmenities B+Commute D+
59
Score
overall 53 C−
8
The NRHP-listed Franklin National Bank, on the southwest corner of Hempstead Turnpike (NY 24) and James Street, in Franklin Square, New York. Currently a Chase
Franklin Square$657k median · 34.6 min commute
Employment CAmenities ACommute F
58
Score
overall 63 C+
9
60th Street looking east West New York
West New York$466k median · 34.5 min commute
Employment FAmenities A+Commute F
58
Score
overall 47 D
10
This is a photo of the Ocean County Courthouse in Toms River, NJ, a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Toms River$404k median · 30.1 min commute
Employment C−Amenities CCommute D
57
Score
overall 55 C−
This list's weighting
Employment 25%Amenities 25%Commute 20%Median rent (lower is better) 15%Cost of living 15%
Other New York lists
Best New York suburbs for familiesMost affordable New York suburbsBest New York suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown New YorkMost walkable New York suburbsHow we score New York suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Hoboken (King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0); Jersey City (King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0); Westfield (Freeholdman12 · CC BY 4.0); Fair Lawn (Rickyrab · CC BY-SA 3.0); Fort Lee (RyeCityRoller · CC BY-SA 4.0); New Brunswick (Alansohn · CC BY-SA 4.0); Clifton (Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0); Franklin Square (DanTD · CC BY-SA 4.0); West New York (Hudconja · CC BY-SA 3.0); Toms River (KForce · CC BY-SA 3.0).