Moving to New Jersey: Pros and Cons in 2025
If you’re thinking about moving to New Jersey, you’re not alone. The Garden State atttacts newcomers for good reason! With bustling metropolitan areas like Trenton and quiet rural towns, there’s a place to match your desired pace of life.
As much as there is to love about New Jersey, it’s smart to weigh the good and the not-so-good before you buy a new home and pack up your belongings.
Here, we’ll walk you through what you need to know about moving to New Jersey to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.
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Pros & cons of living in New Jersey
Like any big move, relocating to New Jersey comes with its own upsides and potential downsides that are important to consider.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest pros and cons of living in the Garden State to help you make an informed decision.
Pros of living in NJ
- ✓Bountiful recreational opportunities
- ✓Diversity
- ✓World-class entertainment
- ✓Leading education
- ✓Superb health care
Cons of living in NJ
- ✖Extreme weather
- ✖Congested population
- ✖High cost of living
- ✖High tax burden
- ✖Terrible traffic
Things to do in New Jersey
Whether you’re moving to New Jersey work, family, or just a fresh start, you’ll want to get the most out of your new home state — and that includes finding fun things to do. The good news is that, no matter your interests, New Jersey has lots of fun places to explore and things to do.
You can visit these places with your family or use them to meet new people if you’re alone. With so many choices, you’re sure to find something that suits you and makes you feel comfortable.
Popular Attractions in New Jersey
- Atlantic City and Boardwalk
- Ocean City
- Cape May
- Grounds for Sculpture
- Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach Water Park
- Six Flags Great Adventure and Wild Safari
- Battleship New Jersey
- Thomas Edison National Historical Park
- Liberty Science Center
- Adventure Aquarium
Museums in New Jersey
- Cape May Lighthouse
- Silverball Retro Arcade Asbury Park
- Battleship New Jersey
- Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum
- Newark Museum
- Princeton University Art Museum
- Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
- Old Barracks Museum
- Emlen Physick Estate
- Historic Cold Spring Village
Parks in New Jersey
- Branch Brook Park
- Laurel Acres Park
- The Frelinghuysen Arboretum
- Roosevelt Park
- Bergen County Zoological Park
- Hamilton Park
- Grounds For Sculpture
- Warinanco Park
- Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park
- Thomas Edison National Historical Park
Fun facts about New Jersey
Each state has a unique character molded by its history, culture, and residents. Learning about its small details and quirky traditions helps you understand what life there is truly like.
These fun facts about New Jersey, will give you a glimpse at what makes the state unique, and may even give you a few more reasons to make the move.
- Some of the most prolific inventions of the 20th century happened right here in New Jersey. One was done by Thomas Edison when he introduced the world to his idea of an electric light bulb.
- New Jersey is the “diner capital of the world.” This is mainly because of certain conditions that helped flourish the dining culture in the state. First, due to the early development of the transportation system in the state, when people were out commuting, they needed some place to stop and feed themselves. The new and upcoming diners served this purpose very well. The geographic location of the state connecting Philadelphia and New York helped further the trend. And the rest is history! According to some sources, the state has the most diners in the world.
- The world’s first dinosaur statue was discovered in Haddonfield, New Jersey in October 1858. It was the first complete dinosaur skeleton to be found and the first to be publicly displayed as well.
- The world’s largest light bulb which is 13 feet tall and weighs eight tons stands near Thomas Edison’s old lab in Edison, New Jersey. The light bulb was constructed in 1938 and it is encased by 153 individual pieces of Pyrex.
- Thomas Edison filed more than 400 patents from his laboratory in Menlo Park. He used copper in almost all his electrical inventions; inside phones, motors, generators and electromagnets.
- The Holland Tunnel which connects Jersey City, New Jersey and Manhattan in New York City, New York is the first mechanically ventilated underwater tunnel in the world.
- New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country.
- New Jersey is also the leading state for the development and manufacturing of flavors and fragrances.
- The gold on the dome of the New Jersey’s state capitol was funded by the school kids from the state. The dome has 48,000 piece of gold leaf and each piece of gold leaf cost $1. New Jersey school kids raised the money through the “Dimes for the Dome” program.
- The lighthouse of the sandy hook is in service since June 11, 1764. The lighthouse completed 250 years of service in 2014 and a celebration was held to mark the historic occasion.
- The state is nicknamed the garden state. The state has more than 10,000 farms and produces more than 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables. The state is ranked nationally in the top 10 as a producer of items such as squash, bell peppers, tomatoes, blueberries, peaches and cranberries.
New Jersey population and demographics
While you’re thinking about relocating to New Jersey, it’s important to look beyond facts and figures to get to the story they tell about the Garden State.
A state with more people might have more jobs, entertainment, and better infrastructure. On the other hand, a state with fewer people could mean a quieter lifestyle and close-knit communities.
Average education levels show the availability of job opportunities or access to local schools and colleges. Political breakdowns may indicate a state’s values and priorities.
Understanding who lives in New Jersey, how they live, and what they value can make it much easier to decide if it’s the kind of place where you’d feel comfortable and connected.
| Metric | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Population | 9,290,841 |
| Female | 50.8% |
| Male | 49.2% |
| College graduation rate | 43.1% |
| Political leaning | Democratic 52-46.1 |
| Crime index | 16.2 |
New Jersey weather
Climate plays a huge role in shaping your day-to-day life, so it’s an important factor to consider when deciding whether New Jersey is right for you. Looking at seasonal highs and lows and average rain and snowfall can help you imagine how much time you’ll be spending outdoors, preparing for storms, and adjusting to temperature extremes.
Summer highs can influence your energy bills and how much time you spend away from the AC. Winter lows determine the type of wardrobe and heating system you’ll need. Annual snowfall can range from light flurries to major storms that affect travel and daily life.
Whether you love sunshine, prefer cooler temps, or want to avoid snow altogether, knowing the climate can help you decide if New Jersey aligns with your lifestyle and comfort level.
| Metric | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Summer high | 85ºF |
| Winter low | 22ºF |
| Annual rain | 48″ |
| Annual snow | 23″ |
Income and cost of living in New Jersey
A look at major industries, average income, housing costs, and the overall cost of living gives you a clearer picture of how affordable and sustainable life will likely be in New Jersey.
Knowing which industries boost the economy can help you evaluate job prospects in your field or foresee job market stability. If you’re thinking about renting or buying a home, housing costs are probably a major factor when deciding whether to move.
The cost of living index shows how much your money is worth compared to the national average. A lower index usually means daily expenses such as groceries, transportation, and housing are cheaper.
These numbers are more than just statistics. They’re practical tools that help you compare your current lifestyle to what’s possible in New Jersey and make a confident, informed decision about your move.
The main economic industries in the state include:
- Professional and business services ($100.9 billion)
- Real estate and rental and leasing ($99.9 billion)
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance ($57.6 billion)
- Manufacturing ($52.3 billion)
- Wholesale trade ($51.8 billion))
- Finance and insurance ($42.2 billion)
- Retail trade ($35 billion)
- Information ($26.7 billion))
- Construction ($23.3 billion)
- Transportation and warehousing ($22.8 billion)
| Metric | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,368 |
| Average home cost | $534,773 |
| Average income (per capita) | $97,126 |
| Cost of living index* | 114 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% |
| Average sales tax | Not available |
| State income tax | 10.7% |
*To figure out the cost of living in each state, there’s a 100-point index, known as the cost of living index. This metric starts with a baseline number of 100. States with a number below that are less expensive to live in while states with numbers higher than 100 are more expensive to live in.
Top schools in New Jersey
If education influences your decision to move, a state’s schools reflect its career opportunities and community resources.
Whether you’re planning to go back to school yourself, have kids nearing graduation, or just want to live in a state with strong academic options, it’s worth checking out what New Jersey has to offer.
Here are some of the top schools in New Jersey:
- Princeton University
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Seton Hall University
- Montclair State University
- Monmouth University
- Rowan University
- Fairleigh Dickinson University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Drew University
- Rider University
- The College of New Jersey
- Stockton University
- Kean University
- William Paterson University
Finding the best moving company for your relocation to New Jersey
We’ve reviewed hundreds of moving companies and worked directly with customers to identify the top movers across the country.
If you’re planning on moving to the Garden State, here are the best moving companies to help you transport your belongings to your new home wherever you are headed from.
- Alabama to NJ
- Arkansas to NJ
- Arizona to NJ
- California to NJ
- Colorado to NJ
- Connecticut to NJ
- Delaware to NJ
- Florida to NJ
- Georgia to NJ
- Iowa to NJ
- Idaho to NJ
- Illinois to NJ
- Indiana to NJ
- Kansas to NJ
- Kentucky to NJ
- Louisiana to NJ
- Massachusetts to NJ
- Maryland to NJ
- Maine to NJ
- Michigan to NJ
- Minnesota to NJ
- Missouri to NJ
- Mississippi to NJ
- Montana to NJ
- North Carolina to NJ
- North Dakota to NJ
- Nebraska to NJ
- New Hampshire to NJ
- New Mexico to NJ
- Nevada to NJ
- New York to NJ
- Ohio to NJ
- Oklahoma to NJ
- Oregon to NJ
- Pennsylvania to NJ
- Rhode Island to NJ
- South Carolina to NJ
- South Dakota to NJ
- Tennessee to NJ
- Texas to NJ
- Utah to NJ
- Virginia to NJ
- Vermont to NJ
- Washington to NJ
- Wisconsin to NJ
- West Virginia to NJ
- Wyoming to NJ
Cost of moving to New Jersey
Before you take the leap to New Jersey, it’s a good idea to get a handle on moving costs. On average, hiring professional movers will run you about $131 per hour. The total cost depends on how much stuff you have and how far you’re moving. Cross-country moves, for example, will definitely hit your wallet harder than a quick hop across state lines.
The type of move you choose can make a big difference in cost, too.
To keep costs down, choose one of the best moving container companies. You do the packing and loading and they handle the driving for you, so it’s kind of like a middle ground between DIY and full-service.
Want to save even more? The most affordable option is to get a rental truck. With this options, you’ll do all of the heavy lifting, including packing, loading, driving, and unloading.
But if you’d rather not break a sweat, professional interstate movers can do all the work for you. Just keep in mind that this convenience comes at a price. Be sure to get quotes from several different movers to find one that fits your budget and moving needs.
| Company | Quote | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Safeway Moving
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Mayzlin Relocation
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BLVD Moving
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PODS
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American Van Lines
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Cost to bring your car to New Jersey
Bringing a car with you? Use our car shipping calculator below to estimate how much it’ll cost to transport your vehicle to New Jersey.
New Jersey car insurance requirements
New Jersey drivers license requirements
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