Look for an express bus that goes to Port Authority. I live right on the 77 bus route and it takes 50 minutes from getting on to getting off the bus in midtown. The towns that use this particular line are West Orange (where I am) and Livingston.

If you're going to midtown then somewhere on the east with an express bus should be OK. I live in Teaneck by a bus stop and it takes like 30 minutes with no traffic, 50 with traffic. Jersey city/ Hoboken could also be good - really just the closer to the city you get, the better the commute will be