Hackensack, NJ, United States

Capital City

With a population of 46,030, Hackensack is a diverse, densely packed city in northern New Jersey, just 12 miles from Manhattan. While the area boasts a vibrant downtown, a thriving university campus, and easy transit access, the municipal bureaucracy can be a persistent headache - the city has had nine city managers in several decades. And with a majority-minority population and significant pockets of poverty, Hackensack may not be the best fit for those seeking a sleepy suburban enclave.