The 10 Best Suburbs Near New York City in 2027

Direct Answer

The best suburb near New York City overall is Montclair, New Jersey, where a median home price around $850,000 buys a diverse, walkable downtown, an arts scene, and a 30-to-45-minute NJ Transit ride into Manhattan. The best value pick is Maplewood, New Jersey, where the median sits near $700,000 with a beloved village center, strong schools, and a direct Midtown Direct train into Penn Station.

This list is for commuters and families who want walkable towns and good schools within a roughly one-hour rail trip to Manhattan. The New York metro is the most transit-dependent in the country, so the best suburbs are defined by their train line and station access as much as by price or schools.

Every suburb below is a real municipality in the metro across New Jersey, Westchester, and Long Island, ranked on median home price, schools, train commute, and walkability, with the strongest all-around performer first.

1. Montclair, New Jersey 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Montclair, in Essex County about 12 miles west of Manhattan, is the metro's standout for combining city access with genuine culture. The median home price is roughly $850,000, and the town offers six distinct neighborhood centers, the Montclair Art Museum, and a dense restaurant scene.

NJ Transit trains reach Penn Station or Hoboken in about 30 to 45 minutes. Montclair's schools are well regarded, and its Victorian housing stock is among the metro's most distinctive. It is best for buyers who want a diverse, walkable, arts-rich town with a manageable Manhattan commute and a strong sense of community.

2. Scarsdale, New York

Scarsdale, in Westchester County about 22 miles north of Midtown, has a median home price near $1.5 million and one of the most acclaimed public school systems in the country. It is a benchmark for affluent commuter living.

Metro-North trains reach Grand Central in about 35 minutes. Scarsdale suits high earners who want the metro's top schools and a fast, classic commute into Midtown, with a quiet, leafy village character and large lots.

3. Maplewood, New Jersey 💎 BEST VALUE

Maplewood, in Essex County about 16 miles from Manhattan, offers the best value here, with a median home price near $700,000 and one of the most charming village downtowns in the metro. It shares a strong school district with neighboring South Orange.

The Midtown Direct NJ Transit line reaches Penn Station in about 30 to 40 minutes without a transfer. Maplewood's mix of diversity, walkability, and a one-seat Manhattan ride at a lower price point makes it the standout value among NYC suburbs.

4. Hoboken, New Jersey

Hoboken, directly across the Hudson from Manhattan, has a median home price near $800,000 and is the most urban, transit-rich option, served by PATH, NJ Transit, ferries, and light rail. Its mile-square grid is fully walkable.

Commutes to Midtown or the Financial District run 15 to 25 minutes by PATH or ferry, the shortest on this list. Hoboken suits young professionals who want city density, nightlife, and the fastest possible commute without living in Manhattan, mostly in condos and brownstones.

5. Summit, New Jersey

Summit, in Union County about 20 miles from Manhattan, has a median home price near $1.1 million and a polished, walkable downtown with a strong school district. It is a classic upscale commuter town.

The Midtown Direct line reaches Penn Station in about 40 to 50 minutes. Summit is best for families who want top schools and a refined downtown with a direct, transfer-free Manhattan ride and a mix of stately and updated homes.

6. Rye, New York

Rye, in Westchester on Long Island Sound about 25 miles from Midtown, has a median home price near $1.6 million and combines waterfront living with strong schools and Playland amusement park. It is among the most prestigious Westchester addresses.

Metro-North trains reach Grand Central in about 40 to 45 minutes. Rye suits affluent families who want waterfront access, top schools, and a reliable Midtown commute.

7. Garden City, New York

Garden City, in Nassau County on Long Island about 20 miles east of Manhattan, has a median home price near $1 million and is a planned village with a walkable downtown, the Roosevelt Field mall nearby, and strong schools.

The Long Island Rail Road reaches Penn Station in about 35 to 45 minutes. Garden City is best for families who want a planned, tree-lined Long Island village with a direct LIRR commute and gracious older homes.

8. Pleasantville, New York

Pleasantville, in Westchester about 30 miles north of Midtown, has a median home price near $750,000 and a quaint, walkable downtown anchored by the Jacob Burns Film Center. Schools are strongly rated.

Metro-North trains reach Grand Central in about 45 to 55 minutes. Pleasantville suits buyers who want a lower-priced Westchester village with genuine downtown character and a reliable, if longer, commute.

9. Ridgewood, New Jersey

Ridgewood, in Bergen County about 20 miles from Manhattan, has a median home price near $900,000 and a bustling downtown with a highly rated school district. It is one of Bergen County's most sought-after towns.

NJ Transit trains reach Hoboken or Penn Station in about 45 to 60 minutes. Ridgewood is best for families who want top Bergen County schools and a lively, walkable downtown with classic Colonial homes.

10. Tenafly, New Jersey

Tenafly, in Bergen County about 10 miles from Manhattan near the George Washington Bridge, rounds out the list with a median home price near $1 million and excellent schools. It is among the closest New Jersey suburbs to the city by car.

Bus and car commutes over the GWB reach Midtown in about 30 to 50 minutes depending on traffic. Tenafly suits families who want top schools and the shortest driving distance to Manhattan among the New Jersey options.

What to Know Before You Buy

Property taxes are the defining cost of New York metro suburbs and among the highest in the nation. In many Westchester and New Jersey towns, the annual bill runs $20,000 to $40,000 or more on a million-dollar home, so buyers must factor taxes into affordability as heavily as the purchase price.

New Jersey and New York both also levy state income tax, which makes the total cost of ownership steep compared with Sun Belt metros.

The commute is the second decisive factor, and it is almost always measured in train minutes rather than miles. A one-seat ride, like the Midtown Direct service from Maplewood and Summit straight into Penn Station, is worth a premium because it avoids a transfer at Hoboken. Hoboken itself wins on raw speed thanks to PATH and ferries.

Living within walking distance of a station, rather than needing to drive and park, sharply improves both daily life and resale value.

School districts such as Scarsdale, Rye, and Tenafly carry national reputations and the price tags to match. Because boundaries can be intricate, especially in Westchester, confirm the exact attendance zone for any home before making an offer.

How to Choose

• Prioritize schools and target Scarsdale and Rye in Westchester or Tenafly and Summit in New Jersey, all top-rated.
• Prioritize commute with Hoboken (PATH or ferry, 15 to 25 minutes) or any Midtown Direct town like Maplewood and Summit for transfer-free rides.
• Prioritize budget and Maplewood, Pleasantville, and Montclair offer the lowest medians here.
• Prioritize walkability with Montclair, Maplewood, and Hoboken, all built around dense, walkable centers.
• Prioritize waterfront with Rye on Long Island Sound or Hoboken on the Hudson.

FAQ

Which NYC suburb has the best schools? Scarsdale and Rye in Westchester, along with Summit and Tenafly in New Jersey, consistently rank among the top public school districts in the New York metro for test scores and college placement.

Which NYC suburb offers the best value? Maplewood, New Jersey, offers strong value, pairing a charming downtown, diversity, and a one-seat Midtown Direct train with a median home price near $700,000, below most comparable towns.

Which suburb has the shortest commute to Manhattan? Hoboken offers the shortest trip, reaching Midtown or the Financial District in 15 to 25 minutes via PATH train or Hudson River ferry, faster than any rail suburb on this list.

What does a "Midtown Direct" train mean for New Jersey commuters? Midtown Direct NJ Transit service carries riders straight into Penn Station Manhattan without transferring at Hoboken, which is why towns like Maplewood, Summit, and Montclair are especially popular with Manhattan commuters.

Bottom Line

For the best overall mix of culture, walkability, and commute, Montclair, New Jersey leads the NYC suburbs at a median near $850,000. For the best value, Maplewood, New Jersey pairs a beloved village center and a direct Midtown train with a median around $700,000.

Sources

• New Jersey Department of Education and New York State school report cards
• Niche.com "Best Suburbs in the New York City Area" rankings
• NJ Transit, Metro-North, LIRR, and PATH schedules
• Zillow and Redfin metro median price data
• Township of Montclair and Township of Maplewood official sites
• U.S. News & World Report best high schools
• U.S. Census Bureau metro estimates