Hoboken, New Jersey

Hoboken is one of those places that surprise you. It’s small — like, literally one square mile — but there’s a lot packed in. It’s got a real neighborhood feel. You walk around and see people you recognize. Folks sit on their stoops. You hear the train. You smell good food pretty much all the time.

It’s super walkable, close to the water, and the Manhattan skyline is just…there. Like part of the backdrop while you go about your day. And it’s not just a “cheaper than NYC” thing — it feels different. Slower, in a good way. But not sleepy.

If you want to be near the city without dealing with the city, this is kind of ideal.

The Vibe
It’s easy here. You can walk to everything. You’re close to the city. You’ve got good food, friendly people, and an actual sense of community. If you’re done with the chaos but still want access to it, Hoboken’s a solid choice.

You’ve got the water right there, and everyone takes advantage of it. Pier A Park is basically the town hangout. People are laying out, reading, jogging, tossing frisbees, whatever. The Hudson River Walkway goes along the whole edge and it’s great for runs or just walking off whatever you just ate.

Speaking of food — this place delivers. You’ve got a mix of old-school and new. Fiore’s is a local classic. Their roast beef and fresh mozz sandwich is kind of legendary. La Isla has amazing Cuban food. Antique Bar & Bakery does really solid wood-fired stuff and it’s got a cool vibe. Not fancy, just good.

Bars here are mostly chill. A few get rowdy, but mostly, it’s neighborhood spots like Grand Vin for wine or Ale House if you just want to sit and watch the game. There’s not a huge club scene or anything, which a lot of people are actually into.

Also, worth checking out the Hoboken Historical Museum if you're into the whole Sinatra/baseball/local history thing. It’s small but cool.

To see what locals get up to for fun in Hoboken, check out the calendar of events.

We highly recommend visiting Hoboken and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can also receive discounted travel fares via our partnership with Expedia.

Hoboken is a great setup if you work in the city but don’t want to live in it. The PATH train gets you into Manhattan in like 15 minutes. Ferries are an option, too, if you want a more scenic commute.

There’s also a bunch of people who work remote or hybrid and just post up in cafes. Black Rail and Bean Vault are laptop-friendly without being annoying about it. If you need something more official, Mission 50 is a coworking space that’s solid and has plenty of room for Zooms and meetups.

You’ll find a mix of tech, finance, marketing, and creative — kind of a grab bag. But it’s not as intense as living in the city itself.