Are You Moving To New Jersey?
New Jersey isn’t just an industrialized state or bedroom community for New York City. It is historic, being one of the original 13 colonies and home to several Revolutionary War battles. New Jersey also boasts miles and miles of Atlantic Ocean beaches, making it a popular summer getaway. Known as the “Jersey Shore” the area is well known for its many boardwalks, arcades, water parks, and amusement parks.
New Jersey is a beautiful state (give credit where it’s due) with plenty of shore towns and beloved diners. Its rural farmland is a source of fresh local produce that you’ll find displayed on-farm stands, albeit mostly in summer.
It is a beautifully diverse state, and a state famous for high-performing public schools, with one of the highest high school graduation rates in the country
Thinking of living in New Jersey? While the Garden State can be expensive, there are still plenty of affordable cities to call home! Residents throughout these great cities enjoy budget-friendly housing, safe neighborhoods, and tons of outdoor recreation, while also being a short commute from New York City and Philadelphia!
If you’re moving to New Jersey there are a lot of things you’re going to need to know. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place.
Moving to New Jersey
Pros and Cons of Living in New Jersey
Here are a few pros and cons to consider as you make your move to The Garden State:
Pros.
Easily accessible. Two of the biggest plusses of living in New Jersey are the location and public transportation. You can get to New York City, Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore in under three hours from most parts of the state, and all of these cities have airports, trains, and other ways to travel to and from NJ.
Picturesque beaches and natural spaces. The Jersey beaches line most of its east coast, from southernmost Cape May up to Sandy Hook. There are also beautiful parks, forests, and open spaces to enjoy, like Brendan T. Byrne Forest, Tyler State Park, and Liberty State Park.
Vibrant local life. Other attractions include the Camden Aquarium and charming small towns like Morristown and Princeton. Jersey is also known for its behemoth shopping malls, busy highways sprinkled with strip malls, endless restaurants, and diners, and its loyal sports fans who love Philly teams (South Jersey) and New York teams (North Jersey).
Cons.
The high cost of living. One downside of living in New Jersey is that its cost of living can be higher when compared to nationwide averages. In general, the closer you get to Philly or New York the higher it is, and this is reflected in housing costs, food, clothing, and other purchases.
New Jersey taxes. NJ taxes are another hurdle. CBS News reports that in 2019, property taxes in this country rose around four percent on average, and New Jersey homeowners pay the highest in the United States.
Lots of traffic. The traffic here is another con, especially for commuters. However, the state does have extensive bus and train systems that help active adults get to where they need to be.
Tax Rates
New Jersey taxes depend on the amount of income earned:
- $40,001 to $75,000: 5.525%
- $75,001 to $500,000: 6.3%
- $500,001 and up: 8.97%
The state sales tax rate is 6.625%, but New Jersey cities and/or municipalities don’t have a city sales tax. Many items are exempt from sales tax, including clothing, groceries, and prescription drugs. Another silver lining: The state’s gas taxes are among the lowest in the nation.
Housing Market
The typical home value of homes in New Jersey is $400,089 according to Zillow. This value is seasonally adjusted and only includes the middle price tier of homes. New Jersey home values have gone up 14.8% over the past year.
What Should I Know In 2021?
Economy Outlook
Only four states are smaller in size than New Jersey, yet New Jersey ranks ninth in the nation in population and has the highest population density of any U.S. state, facts owing in part to its proximity to both New York City and Philadelphia but also indicative of its economic importance. New Jersey is a major industrial center, an important transportation corridor and terminus, and a long-established playground for summer vacationers.
The state is noted for its output of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, machinery, and a host of other products, including electronic equipment, printed materials, and processed foods. Bayonne is the terminus of pipelines originating in Texas and Oklahoma, and there are oil refineries at Linden and Carteret. The long history of heavy industry in New Jersey has left the state with the largest inventory of U.S. Superfund sites, and industrial cleanup is an important issue in its cities.
Today, jobs in the service sector outnumber manufacturing jobs more than three to one. Nonetheless, the State Division of Economic Development, along with the major utilities and business organizations, has conducted an effective program of marketing New Jersey to industry. New Jersey has continued to attract many industries, especially corporate headquarters from New York City, largely through its greater space, better transportation, and favorable tax rates.
Get a Quote
Testimonials
What Our Clients Say
Traffic & Transportation
Transportation in New Jersey utilizes a combination of road, rail, air, and water modes. … New Jersey Transit, the chief operator of intrastate public transportation, manages three separate light rail systems, eleven commuter rail lines, and a statewide bus system.
RAIL
NJ TRANSIT provides extensive rail commuter service throughout Northern New Jersey and along the Jersey shore.
AMTRAK trains travel through New Jersey along the Northeast Corridor, between New York City and Philadelphia. Rail service is also available between Philadelphia and Atlantic City.
PATH service runs between Newark, Harrison, Jersey City, Hoboken, and Manhattan.
BUS
NJ TRANSIT runs extensive bus service throughout the entire state.
Cost of living
Rent is high because property ownership is so expensive. New Jersey taxes are the highest of those of any of the 50 states; services are similarly costly. If you’re going to enjoy all that New Jersey has to offer, you have to acknowledge that it comes with a price.
New Jersey is a notoriously expensive state to live in. … As a result, New Jersey rents are well above average. The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Jersey City, NJ is currently $2,634.75. This is an 8% decrease compared to the previous year.
Over the past month, the average rent for a studio apartment in Jersey City remained flat. The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $1,404.33 outside of the center and the average rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $1,905.26 outside de center.
- Four-person family monthly costs: 3,944.50$ without rent
- A single person monthly costs: 1,064.91$ without rent.
- Rent in Jersey City is, on average, 34.66% lower than in New York.
Moving to New Jersey
Things to Know When Moving To New Jersey
Our Partners
Moving is one of the most exciting and overwhelming events in our lives. While there are many moving companies and various different resources to choose from, there is only one Real Movers. If you are in the process of planning a long-distance move, and you are looking for a moving company you can trust, Real Movers is your perfect choice.
