Why Brooklyn Creatives Are Quietly Choosing These New Jersey Towns

There’s a certain kind of buyer I’ve been working with a lot lately.

They’re artists, designers, media professionals, tech creatives, musicians — people who care deeply about culture, walkability, diversity, and community.

And lately, many of them are doing something they once swore they never would:

They’re leaving Brooklyn.

Not in a dramatic, burn-it-down way.
More like… a slow exhale.

This move isn’t about giving anything up.
It’s about gaining space — physical, mental, and creative — without losing the things that make life feel alive.

It’s Not Just About More Space (Though That Helps)

Yes, New Jersey offers more room.
More natural light.
Backyards. Home offices. Storage that doesn’t double as a meditation exercise.

But the Brooklyn buyers I work with aren’t moving just because they want bigger kitchens.

They’re choosing specific North Jersey towns because of how they feel.

The North Jersey Towns Brooklyn Buyers Keep Choosing

Maplewood, South Orange, and Montclair aren’t accidental choices.

These towns consistently come up for Brooklyn creatives relocating to New Jersey because they offer:

Walkable downtowns with real personality
Coffee shops where people linger
Restaurants you’d proudly recommend to friends visiting from NYC
Neighbors who care about art, music, food, and community

They feel creative without trying too hard.
Cultured without being precious.
Grounded, but not sleepy.

“I Still Need Access to New York City”

Almost every buyer says this to me.

They want Broadway nights.
Museums.
Last-minute dinners in Manhattan.
That energy hit only New York City can give.

The difference is… they don’t want to live inside it anymore.

Living in North Jersey offers:

Direct train access to Manhattan
Easy city nights when the mood strikes
And the ability to come home to quiet, space, and a nervous system that can finally relax

You’re not leaving New York.
You’re changing how often it has access to you.