Thanks for the confirmation and for taking the time, yorkster. Greatly appreciated. And thanks for being a great resource, JCList!

Very safe and family oriented. I've lived on York (btw Jersey and Varick) for over 5 years and have never had any issues. Everyone in the neighborhood is friendly and keeps an eye out for each other and their property. It's convenient to the park and both path/light rail as well. Both my wife and I have walked from the path at all hours without incident. Obviously you are in city and have to be alert but nothing more than anywhere else you've lived.

May I get opinions on the block of Varick between York and Bright please? I've checked it out at different times, and it seems nice and safe, but I'm hoping to get some experienced opinions.

Husband and I have lived in 3 of 5 boroughs, in neighborhoods ranging from Sunset Park, Brooklyn to Forest Hills, Queens. Likely would be walking home late at night after work/shows.

Many thanks!

For information on the schools I suggest you go talk with the JC Moms group.

http://www.meetup.com/jerseycitymoms/

Quote:
The tax rate is the same all over J.C. it is the property assesment that changes thanks to the free spending on over inflated prices of homes for sale in that area.

Thank you JCsuperfan, bjay and vindication15 for the replies...this was very helpful.
Also I have one more question regarding jersey city downtown in general, I noticed the taxes are quite high in this region, so I was wondering if there are good preschools and elementary schools in the area. Thanks again!

all of downtown jc is pretty safe. I remember 10 years ago I was robbed right on newark ave and jersey ave but things have changed dramatically....

Agreed -- Wayne between Jersey and Varick is very nice. But we have had a couple of car windows broken into recently. And it's always smart to keep your awareness up and your headphones not in your ears when walking alone at night.

Hi SSM! Glad you're thinking about moving to the neighborhood. My wife and I have rented on York between Jersey and Varick for 4 years (sounds like we're neighbors with @yorkster!). We love the neighborhood and haven't had any issue to speak of.

The area keeps getting better and better! We love the park (thanks, @parkman!), the new restaurants that keep popping up, the local artists and of course how easy it is to get into the city (contrary to the PATH haters on this forum).

I've never felt unsafe. My wife says there've only been a handful of times she felt at all uneasy. To @yorkster's point, there are lots of families, and people really do look out for each other. It's a really solid community.

Nowhere's perfect, so you should to be smart and alert if you're walking alone late at night. But at the end of the day, I don't think you can do much better than the Grove St to Van Vorst area.

Thank you Ripple and Yorkster. this certainly helps.

All of the blocks you mentioned are considered safe - there's really not that much difference between the areas of downtown JC in terms of safety. Closer to the PATH is better because your walk will be shorter which means less chance for anything to happen, but that's about the only significant factor.

I've owned on York between Jersey and Varick for the past 5 years and have never had any issues. My wife leaves for work taking the path very early (often still dark) and has never had any issues. I too come home a couple of times late at night and never experienced any issues either. The block has a lot of families and people look out for each other. Hope this helps.

Dear Members,

I was wondering what sections of Van vorst park are safe for renting/ buying for a female who occasionally has to work late. I am looking at the following blocks close to the van vorst park in downtown jersey city:

sections of mercer street, york street , Montgomery street & Wayne street between jersey avenue and varick street. I know that areas adjoining the park are very safe , but I am not sure about a couple of blocks away from the park beyond jersey avenue.

any insight will be very helpful.

also how are the streets on the other side of Newark ave, for example Erie street and coles street. are they considered safe?

Thank you
SSM

It is undoubtedly the safest area in downtown...or at least that is my experience. I used to live one block south of where you are looking, and currently live right on Van Vorst Park. Walking through the park at night, you have to be aware as it becomes a hang out at times, but you will have that anywhere. This is the only area I would live in in Jersey City. I am sure other parts are just as safe, but I would have no reason to look anywhere else as I have no complaints about the VVP area.

I've lived within a block of that location since 1996. I echo what everyone else has said. It's a city so you should always be alert, but as city blocks go, it's tops.

I'm a young woman and live right near that intersection. I've never felt unsafe walking back from the train, even in the middle of the night. There are usually plenty of people about walking dogs and whatnot. That said, it's a city, it's always worth staying alert. There are a lot of nice people and nice apartments (it actually feels like a neighborhood), and VVP itself is lovely. There's a farmer's market on Saturdays and in the summers you get people practicing Shakespeare in the gazebo.

It's safe. Probably safer than a great deal of neighborhoods in Manhattan.

Every area has it's good and bad spots. The Van Vorst Park is about as nice as it gets for JC as a whole. I've lived downtown in the area of 6th and Coles for 6.5 years and never had a problem. I am a single woman in my 30's , and I walk home from the PATH at all hours of the day and night. I know of bad stuff that has happened to people (men and women) where I have lived,and where you are looking to live, but again, nothing bad has happened to me. I do not walk around with ear buds in my ears, ever. And for the most part I stay off my phone if I am walking home late at night. I consider myself to be pretty street smart, and around here the more street smart and aware of your surroundings you are, the less of a chance someone will take advantage of you.

Don't leave your bag or GPS in your car...there are no guarantees though. This is a city, and folks from the shitty areas are still allowed to come into the good areas. There are always random acts of window smashing for fun here in JC, even in the the VVP area.

Dont get shi* faced drunk and walk home alone late at night...

I second the idea that you should come see the area for yourself at night. Take the PATH in and walk around.

JC is a cool place. Close to the city without the attitude. You have to decide if the possibility of grittiness out-weights the great stuff JC has to offer.

It is a very safe area for city living. You definitely would not need to get a cab home late night.

You should always check out an area FOR YOURSELF at night before you decide if you want to consider living there or not. After you have seen the area for yourself at night, then come back and ask questions.

Attacked, injured, raped - low to no likelihood.

Robbed, mugged - possible. There's been a recent spate of cellphone snatching downtown.

Parked car safety - don't leave any valuables visible. JC goes through cycles of car break-ins. Also don't street park the types of car that car-thieves want - such as high-end SUVs and sports cars.

If you're getting back after 8pm or so, I'd recommend spending a few bucks on a cab from Grove St Path - but it's mostly a well-lit walk with low risk.

I am a single woman in my early 30s considering an apt near Jersey Ave and York St. I am not too familiar with JC and would like to hear opinions on the safety of the area. How safe to park a car on the streets and how safe to walk back from the Path at night? Thank you!