The Waterfront is making waves! Jersey City has dozens of neighborhoods. But ask any local about the best neighborhoods in Jersey City, and they’ll tell you about Waterfront Jersey City.
Jersey City Waterfront is a very nice place to live, with incredible restaurants, hip nightlife, and very safe streets. Moving to Jersey City Waterfront can change your life. But if you want to make the most out of this special neighborhood, you need to learn more about living in Jersey City Waterfront. Here’s your guide to this up-and-coming neighborhood in Jersey City.
As the name suggests, The Waterfront in Jersey City borders the Hudson River. It is directly across from Lower Manhattan, north of Liberty State Park and Ellis Island, and south of Hoboken, NJ. The Waterfront is in eastern Jersey City, directly east of Historic Downtown and less than one mile from the center of Jersey City. A commute to the city center would take five minutes. The neighborhood is roughly 1.4 square miles, and the zip codes for Waterfront are 07302, 07310, and 07311.
The Waterfront Jersey City is a terrific neighborhood for commuters and frequent travelers. The neighborhood includes Interstate 78 and the Holland Tunnel, which provides direct access to Soho and Lower Manhattan. The neighborhood has two Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) stations, Newport and Exchange Place, which are on the Green Line running between Hoboken and the World Trade Center. The neighborhood also contains several stops on the Hudson Bergen Light Rail and several ferry terminals.
You can find terrific amenities, places to live, and restaurants using this map of The Waterfront.
The Lenape inhabited the area of Jersey City Waterfront for thousands of years. The City of Jersey City was established in 1630, and the waterfront immediately became a popular site for houses, docks, and businesses.
As New York City and Jersey City NJ developed, The Waterfront also developed. In the 1800s and 1900s, the neighborhood became a site for trainyards and industrial businesses. In the 2000s, it became popular amongst urban developers, and it now has numerous apartment buildings, shopping malls, hotels, and eateries.
The Jersey City Waterfront is well known for its scenic views of New York City and the Hudson River. More people know the neighborhood as a place to visit than a place to live. But the community has many options for housing, including condos and apartments, and the area is extremely popular amongst young professionals.
Waterfront Jersey City demographics include:
Waterfront is a hub for the Indian and Chinese communities of Jersey City, New Jersey. More than 4,200 residents identify as being of Indian descent, and more than 2,500 residents identify as being of Chinese descent. The Waterfront has the highest population in terms of the percentage of foreign-born residents out of all Jersey City neighborhoods.
Waterfront Jersey City is densely populated; the population density is roughly 13,672 people per square mile. Despite the dense population and numerous buildings, the neighborhood is very walkable, with paved sidewalks and lit streets. You can walk along the river and stop in various parks and docks.
Waterfront’s population is very young; nearly half of the neighborhood’s residents are between the ages of 18 and 34. The Waterfront has the lowest percentage of children of any Jersey City neighborhood, with only 12.3% of the population being younger than 18. While families can live in the area, there are no public schools in or close to The Waterfront.
The Waterfront is popular amongst single professionals, though many couples choose to live in the neighborhood. 53% of residents are currently married. More than three-quarters of the population are currently employed, with very few retirees or active service members living in the community. Finance and insurance are the most popular job industries.
The neighborhood has a very high Asian population, but it has a smaller non-White population than the city average. Jersey City is well-known as an LGBTQ+ friendly city, and Waterfront Jersey City has several gay bars and lounges open to people older than 21.
Besides its gay bars, Waterfront has other bars that create a vibrant and hip nightlife. Many bars in the area have rooftop lounges that give you views of the Hudson River and the New York City skyline at night. You can also visit various restaurants at night, including family-friendly and romantic destinations.
You can find numerous exciting things to do in Waterfront Jersey City, especially if you like to eat and drink. Here are a few of the best attractions in the neighborhood.
You have many options for restaurants in Jersey City Waterfront. If you’re taking someone out on a date, you can go to Battello, an Italian Waterfront restaurant located on a dock in the Hudson River. The restaurant specializes in seafood, including unique offerings like lobster ravioli and smoked trout. You can also share various dishes with your romantic partner, such as a seafood tower with various shellfish.
If you or your date doesn’t like seafood, you can go to Hudson and Co, a trendy American gastropub with a patio overlooking the river. Kid-friendly restaurants include Taqueria Downtown, a casual Mexican restaurant that serves tacos, burritos, and enchiladas.
If you like European-style bars, you can visit Zeppelin Hall, a German-style beer garden. Zeppelin Hall offers more than 100 beers as well as authentic German sausages, pretzels, and spare ribs in a fun and friendly setting. Surf City is a vacation-style bar facing toward the Morris Canal Basin, giving you views of the Statute of Liberty and Ellis Island. You can enjoy frozen drinks, sparkling wines, and hard seltzers in a light and fun setting.
Newport Centre is the main shopping destination in the neighborhood. The Newport Mall contains more than 100 stores, including high-end brands such as Michael Kors.
The neighborhood contains several small parks directly next to the water. Newport Green Park covers four acres and contains a beach, play area, and public garden. Lefrak Point Lighthouse contains a unique lighthouse that’s great for photography. The Jersey City Department of Recreation and Youth Development plans public events and classes in these parks and other spaces throughout the year.
Here’s where you can find the top Waterfront restaurants and attractions:
Students living in The Waterfront attend schools in Jersey City Public Schools. As mentioned previously, The Waterfront is not home to any public schools, but students can use buses to get to school. The district contains 39 schools and is one of the most diverse districts in the country. 37.7% of students identify as Hispanic or Latino, while 25.6% identify as Black or African American, and 18.7% identify as Asian.
Students in the northern Waterfront area attend Rafael De J. Cordero Elementary School, while students in the southern area attend Cornelia F. Bradford No. 16 Elementary School. US News and World Report ranks Bradford as the fifth-best elementary school in the state. 92% of students test at or above the proficiency level in mathematics, 54 percentage points higher than the district average.
Jersey City has eight high schools, including McNair Academic High School. US News and World Report ranks it in the top 100 high schools in the country; 92% of students pass at least one AP exam. Any student in Jersey City elementary schools can apply to McNair High School.
The Waterfront is home to a few small private schools. Saint Peter’s Prep is a Jesuit school that offers Latin, foreign language, and AP classes to all students.
New Jersey City University (NJCU) and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) have buildings in Waterfront Jersey City. The Pavonia Branch of the Jersey City Public Library is just outside The Waterfront.
Jersey City Waterfront is a safe community to live in. Here are the latest crime rates:
The Jersey City Police Department serves The Waterfront. The police department has 1,005 police officers, and several officers regularly patrol the area. Waterfront is one of the safest neighborhoods in Jersey City. Many residents recommend visiting and staying in the area, even at night.
According to Redfin, the average sales price of Jersey City Waterfront homes for sale is $888,500. The median sales price per square foot is $914. The real estate market in The Waterfront is fairly competitive, with 50 Waterfront homes being sold in May 2023 alone. Though buying a house in Jersey City can be expensive, you can use first-time homebuyer programs to reduce the cost.
The neighborhood does not contain homes or townhomes, but dozens of Waterfront condos in Jersey City are currently available for purchase. Most condo buildings have been built within the last 20 years. Many buildings have several units open, so you can explore different options at the same address. Most Waterfront condos have one or two bedrooms and cover 600 to 1,200 square feet, making them suitable for young professionals and couples. You can buy a Jersey City Waterfront condo with luxurious features like a fully-furnished kitchen, an ensuite bathroom, and oversized windows for less than $700,000.
The Waterfront is far better for renters than homebuyers. According to RentCafe, the average rent for Jersey City apartments is $3,437 a month, roughly $1,700 more than the national average. Even studio apartments covering less than 700 square feet can cost over $2,500 a month to rent. However, many apartment buildings offer amenities like concierge services and cinema-style screening rooms. You have many options for Jersey City Waterfront apartments, including Haus25, a recently built apartment complex with hospitality-inspired services.
Living in Waterfront Jersey City can transform your life! You can connect with thousands of young professionals, enjoy vibrant clubs and restaurants, and move into a luxurious apartment or condo.
But before you start living in Waterfront, you must figure out moving to Waterfront. Catlow Movers’ team of Jersey City movers has performed more than 100,000 relocations. Get a free Jersey City Waterfront moving quote by calling 201-653-1808.
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