McGinley Square:
Jersey City's Quiet
Anchor Neighborhood

If Journal Square is Jersey City's transit hub and the Heights is its skyline-view secret, McGinley Square is the neighborhood locals describe as the city's anchor — historic, walkable, and built around real day-to-day life rather than a tourist checklist. It sits just south of Journal Square, close enough to borrow its PATH access without taking on its density, and it's centered around St. Peter's University, which gives the whole area a settled, small-campus-town energy that's rare to find this close to Manhattan.

It's also one of the most overlooked neighborhoods in the city for visitors — which, if you're looking for genuine local character over polish, is exactly the point.

Why McGinley Square Is Jersey City's Anchor

McGinley Square consistently posts one of the highest Walk Scores in Jersey City — the kind of number that means groceries, coffee, a pharmacy, and dinner are all a genuine walk away, not a rideshare away. Locals often call it the anchor of the city, and it earns the title less through any single landmark and more through consistency: tree-lined streets, well-kept historic homes, and a population that's largely long-term residents rather than short-term turnover.

It's a quieter neighborhood than Journal Square, without tipping into the isolation you'd trade for in a neighborhood with no nearby transit at all. That balance — walkable, residential, still connected — is what makes it worth a serious look, especially for anyone who wants Jersey City's small-town feel without sacrificing convenience.

Getting In, Out, and Around

McGinley Square doesn't have its own PATH station, but it doesn't need one — the Journal Square Transportation Center is a short walk or quick bus ride away, putting you on the PATH to 33rd Street or the World Trade Center in about 25–30 minutes total.

Bus: Local NJ Transit routes connect McGinley Square directly to the Journal Square Transportation Center in about 10 minutes, running frequently throughout the day.

Walking: For most of McGinley Square, Journal Square PATH station is a genuinely walkable 15–20 minutes — flat terrain, well-lit main streets, no transfer required.

Rideshare: Uber and Lyft are reliable throughout the neighborhood, useful for the airport run or a late-night return. Newark Liberty International Airport is roughly 20 minutes away by car — for the full breakdown, see our Newark Airport transportation guide.

Flying in for your visit? Search flights on Booking.com to compare fares before you book.

St. Peter's University & Local Life

St. Peter's University sits at the heart of the neighborhood, and its presence shapes the whole area's rhythm — a steady flow of students and faculty, a handful of genuinely good casual restaurants and coffee shops nearby, and a campus-adjacent calm that's unusual to find this close to a major city. It's not a party-school energy; it's closer to a quiet college town dropped into an urban neighborhood, which suits families and longer-term visitors especially well.

Montgomery Street and Bergen Avenue anchor the neighborhood's commercial strip, with a mix of long-running local restaurants and small businesses that lean toward practical over trendy — reliable, unpretentious spots rather than a curated food scene built for visitors.

Historic Streets & Green Space

McGinley Square's residential streets are lined with well-preserved historic homes — a mix of Victorian and early-20th-century architecture that's earned parts of the neighborhood a reputation as one of Jersey City's most visually consistent, well-maintained residential pockets. It's a genuinely pleasant neighborhood to just walk through, with no particular destination in mind.

Lincoln Park, one of the largest green spaces in Jersey City, sits nearby and adds sports fields, walking paths, and open lawn space that the denser parts of the city simply don't have room for. Between the park and the tree-lined residential streets, McGinley Square has an unusual amount of breathing room for how centrally located it is.

What a Day in McGinley Square Actually Looks Like

Mornings start with coffee within walking distance and a stroll through Lincoln Park while the neighborhood wakes up. Midday, Montgomery Street covers groceries, errands, and lunch without needing a car or a rideshare. If Manhattan's on the agenda, the walk or short bus to Journal Square puts you on the PATH within half an hour of stepping out the door. Evenings tend to stay local — dinner at one of the neighborhood's long-running spots, then a quiet walk home down tree-lined streets that feel more like a small town than a city block from a transit hub.

It's the kind of neighborhood that rewards staying more than a night or two — the longer you're there, the more it starts to feel like an actual routine instead of a visit.

Where to Stay in McGinley Square

StayJC has two properties in McGinley Square, both built for exactly this kind of stay: City Oasis and UrbanStay, both set on the neighborhood's walkable residential streets near St. Peter's, with an easy walk or short bus ride to the Journal Square PATH.

Every StayJC property is the same listing you'd find on Airbnb — booked direct, without the 15–20% service fee added at checkout.

Browse all StayJC properties and book direct →

Booking Tours & Experiences

From McGinley Square, you're a short trip from everything else worth seeing on a Jersey City or Manhattan visit — Statue of Liberty tours, NYC sightseeing, Hudson River cruises, and more. We partner with the following platform to help you make the most of your stay:

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you book through them, StayJC may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend platforms and services we'd genuinely suggest to a friend visiting Jersey City.