Good place to live in NY/NJ?

My company is relocating me from Minneapolis suburbs to our office in Manhattan, NY. I am looking for a better place to live around NY area with a good school system(I have kids going to preschool). I will be staying in apartment and I don’t have any plans to buy a house. I am looking for good locations within 1 hr travel distinace from NYC and a good area to grow up my children.