Obligatory have never lived in BK. I work in FIDI near the Oculus and the commute in from JC, specifically the Exchange Place area, is ~10-15 minutes and super convenient. Coming in from Southern BK would certainly take longer. Downtown JC itself near the water is extremely clean, safe, less crowded (I would almost describe it as a "ghost" time vibe) and rent is cheaper for the amount of space you would be getting, though may be par with Southern BK compared to Manhattan etc. Overall a good experience. If commute time is big factor for you as it was for me, I think it may be a no brainer.