Do not listen to the people promoting their outer belt neighborhoods if you want to move for your social life. Places like the Heights, Bergen Lafayette or Bayonne are pretty good quality of life if you already have a partner or can't afford to live Downtown or Hoboken in the style you require, which in this case means having parking. But if you want the easiest access to the densest NJ social life, Manhattan, or even Brooklyn, choose Downtown or Hoboken if you can.

FWIW, my wife commuted for several years to St George Staten Island from Downtown, took her about 35 minutes.