Another vote for Montclair! I just recently moved out bc we had a baby and bought a house nearby, otherwise we would have stayed in our rental in Montclair for as long as possible. We were in a reasonably priced two bedroom off the Mountain Ave NJ Transit stop within walking distance to some amazing shops and restaurants. The nightlife isn’t as lively as Hoboken or downtown JC, but there are definitely a few bars, great restaurants, and tons of cultural events going on.

Your commute might be a little long at times but my neighbor commuted to Bergen County and didn’t have any issues. Feel free to PM me!