Best areas for commuting to Lower Manhattan
Williamsburg, Park Slope and Jersey City lead — about 19, 21 and 22 minutes at 8 AM by their fastest mode. All 10 areas, ranked with real rush-hour data:
| # | Area | Drive 8 AM | Transit 8 AM | Fastest | Time value/yr at $30/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williamsburg | 23 min | 19 min | Transit | ≈ $4,740 |
| 2 | Park Slope | 21 min | 33 min | Driving | ≈ $5,250 |
| 3 | Jersey City | 27 min | 22 min | Transit | ≈ $5,490 |
| 4 | Hoboken | 29 min | 35 min | Driving | ≈ $7,260 |
| 5 | Astoria | 38 min | 38 min | Driving | ≈ $9,510 |
| 6 | Riverdale | 46 min | 1h 23m | Driving | ≈ $11,490 |
| 7 | Forest Hills | 52 min | 51 min | Transit | ≈ $12,750 |
| 8 | Montclair | 1h 8m | 1h 17m | Driving | ≈ $17,010 |
| 9 | White Plains | 1h 15m | 1h 22m | Driving | ≈ $18,750 |
| 10 | Mineola | 1h 20m | 1h 16m | Transit | ≈ $18,990 |
Weekday morning peak (Tuesday 8 AM departure), Google Maps traffic data, checked August 2026. Time value = round trip × 5 days × 50 weeks at $30/hr. Click an area for the full corridor breakdown.
Working in Lower Manhattan?
Lower Manhattan stacks finance and government from Wall Street to the World Trade Center, with Fulton Center and the Oculus knotting a dozen subway lines, PATH and ferries together. It's farther than Midtown from the northern suburbs — and closer for Brooklyn and New Jersey.
Not sure where your limit is? Our guide to how far is too far to commute prices each commute length in hours and dollars. Weighing cheaper housing farther down the list? The rent vs. commute calculator puts both in the same currency, and the commute cost calculator adds gas, parking and fares.
These are area averages — your address matters
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