Newark, New Jersey

Chances are if you’ve heard of Newark and you're from the Midwest or West Coast, it’s about the airport -- a global transportation hub and one of the most common ways folks fly to the New York metropolitan area. But Newark has a lot more to offer than just an easy way into the city. It has all of the benefits of living in a smaller community, while only being a hop, skip and jump from the Big Apple.

Newark has a historical reputation for crime that they've made remarkable progress on in recent years. Locals decry the reputation as hopelessly outdated. Where they still struggle is with the quality of the public schools. Zuckerberg gave $100 million a few years back to try to whip them into shape but as with most attempts to fix things from the outside with a giant bag of money those who live in Newark played little role in the fix and it appears to have failed. Continued progress in this area would truly elevate Newark.

Newark offers much of the same as any typical city -- with the added benefit of being so close to major cities, sports teams, and transportation hubs. The danger is real, but some neighborhoods and suburbs are safer than others and families have lots of the types of activities you’d expect in a city this size.

Let's talk about three distinct Newark neighborhoods:
University Heights gets its name from the four advanced schools in the neighborhood including Rutgers. Living here means you are surrounded by 32,000 students which gives the area big youthful energy. As is always the case, this energy and reasonable housing prices are pulling in droves of young professionals.

Downtown Newark is at the center of the business, culture, and entertainment scene and for those commuting to NYC, you have instant access to the New Light Rail.

Finally, if you're looking for an escape from the NYC or Newark city scene then look at Forest Hill. This is suburbia at its finest but within the city limits. The neighborhood includes Branch Brook Park, beautiful walking trails, and pre-World War II mansions in Georgian and Tudor styles.

If you want to see what locals do in Newark check out the calendar of events.

Newark is a lot more diverse than other cities. There’s a good nightlife and lots of things to do. And, of course, it has very easy access to New York and a great airport to get in and out of town from. The city is currently redeveloping its downtown, so it’s a great time to check it out.