Moving to Newark & the Gold Coast
Moving into this region means choosing between two genuinely different commute-into-Manhattan systems -- the PATH train (Hudson County's waterfront cities) and NJ Transit's Midtown Direct rail lines (the inland Essex/Union County suburbs) -- plus Newark Liberty International Airport as the region's major air hub.
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Learn morePATH Train: The Waterfront Cities' Fast Manhattan Link
The PATH train connects Newark, Jersey City, and Hoboken directly to Manhattan, with Hoboken and Downtown Jersey City stations (Newport, Exchange Place, Grove Street) both offering roughly 10-20 minute rides -- among the fastest, most frequent transit commutes into Manhattan available anywhere in the New York metro. PATH runs four lines on weekdays (two on weekends), connecting Newark and Hoboken to both the World Trade Center and 33rd Street/Penn Station areas.
Midtown Direct: The Inland Suburbs' Rail Advantage
Montclair, Summit, Westfield, Millburn, and Cranford are all served by NJ Transit's Morris & Essex Lines or Raritan Valley Line, several offering genuine 'Midtown Direct' service -- a real, no-transfer train ride straight into New York Penn Station, a meaningfully different commute experience than a PATH-plus-subway or PATH-plus-walk routine, and a real factor in these suburbs' premium pricing.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Newark Liberty International Airport, straddling Newark and Elizabeth, is a major international hub -- the largest hub for United Airlines by available seat miles (United serves roughly 63% of EWR passengers), and the second-busiest airport in the New York airport system, serving more than 47 million passengers in 2025. This region's proximity to EWR is a real, practical advantage over most of New Jersey's other regions for movers who travel frequently.
Port-Driven Truck Traffic Near Newark and Elizabeth
Newark and Elizabeth's roads carry real, substantial truck traffic tied to Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal's status as the primary container terminal of the busiest seaport on the East Coast -- a genuine, practical driving consideration for movers relocating near the port or along the New Jersey Turnpike's northern extension through this area.
Key takeaways
- The PATH train gives Newark, Jersey City, and Hoboken residents roughly 10-20 minute rides into Manhattan -- among the fastest transit commutes in the entire New York metro.
- Montclair, Summit, Westfield, Millburn, and Cranford are served by NJ Transit's Morris & Essex or Raritan Valley Lines, several with genuine no-transfer Midtown Direct service into Manhattan.
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is a major United Airlines hub and the second-busiest airport in the New York airport system, a real practical advantage for this region's residents.
- Newark and Elizabeth's roads carry real, substantial port-related truck traffic tied to Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, the primary container terminal of the busiest East Coast seaport.
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