Hoboken vs Brooklyn

I think the main reason is transportation and image. Depending on where you work and go out at night, the PATH can be inconvenient. I think Hoboken is more walkable, has better shops, restaurants, and parks than Brooklyn, but New Yorkers still don't want to live in Jersey.

I just moved to Brooklyn, and I love it. For me, the commute time was key, and my commute is so much shorter now. I still have a stigma towards Jersey, but I have been to Hoboken, and it's very nice, although I like the "New York-ness" that you feel in Brooklyn.

I'm currently looking at both, not too seriously as I really would prefer Manhattan, but to be honest it is difficult to shop in Hoboken because it seems no one has floorplans for apartments. At least in Brooklyn you can get a sense of the layout of apartments before hauling out there to see them. In Hoboken all you get in advance is a couple of pictures.

Parks? Prospect Park/Botanical Gardens is perhaps the most beautiful park in the city. There is nothing comparable in Hoboken.

Walk around Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Park Slope, Boerem Hill, Fort Greene/Clinton Hill, the Victorians south of Prospect Park, etc. Brooklyn has so many areas of architectural distinction, buildings with great "bones". Culturally, there is so much to do and great creative energy.

What's appealing in Hoboken is the new construction. There is very little prewar (or 19th century) quality architecture. Hoboken is pleasant, but its draw is different than Brooklyn's.

Hoboken has the great park on the river on Sinatra Drive which is perfect for jogging and just relaxing. The views here are outstanding, which is slightly more appealing to me than trees. Prospect Park is great, but much of Brooklyn is not within walking distance. Church Square and Columbus Park are also nice little spaces. I agree Brooklyn's architecture is more interesting along with a more creative energy, Hoboken does have some art space, but its not as distinctive.

You know, anonilicious, I would have to disagree about walking distance. Walking distance of what? You can walk over the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan. There is a great park right off the bridge. I would have to say that that is a TON of walking. Also, Prospect Park and McCarren Park are both walking distances from subway stations, and McCarren park even has a track and athletic center. It sounds like you are just a Brooklyn hater. Why don't you take a walk around Bk sometime.

Brooklyn is the new "hip" place to be, just like LI City. Although I would never live in LIC. I live in Hobo and love it. Is full of shops and places to eat. The commute to 33rd street is only 15 minutes. I even save taxes by living in NJ vs. Brooklyn. But there are nice apts in Brooklyn. Price per sq foot is cheaper in Hobo vs. Brooklyn but that should narrow, I think.

ROFL. LIC isn't hip. It's convenient subway access to Midtown & cheap compared to prime Manhattan.

Nine posts and only one person pointed out that you don't pay NYC taxes in Hoboken! Considering they are going up 50% soon, you might want to consider that as well. Also, depends where you like to go in the Summer-- we head to Spring Lake, so Hoboken makes much more sense vs Brklyn.

they're hiking up NYC taxes? link?

Things may have changed in Hoboken, but I think the restuarants are a bit better in BK, especially in areas like Brooklyn Heights. From what I remember the night life in Hoboken catered to post college crowd. Are families settling in Hoboken as much as in Brooklyn?

Yes families are settling into Hoboken. I was there last weekend and in one building 3 out of the first 4 groups I saw were couples with babies.

Just take a walk around Hoboken and you will see kids and babies all over.

I am a Brooklyn native who lives in Hoboken. We would love to live in Brooklyn, but we simply can't afford it. It's not just the cost of housing, although that is significant (plus a typical Brooklyn Heights 2BR has only 1BA plus no parking or outdoor space). It's also the cost of living. Groceries are considerably more, and school options are much worse. There are very few decent public schools in Brooklyn, and there are not enough spots in them for all the kids. There are good magnet high schools but again, far too few spots. And once you look at private school, that's the end of any possible comparison. $13k/year for Stevens Cooperative vs. $33k/year at St Ann's. It was tough moving to NJ but I just couldn't justify staying in Brooklyn.

The public schools in Hoboken are just as bad as those in Brooklyn. Most people either pay for private school or move to the Bergen/Essex suburbs and send their kids to public school.