So, you’re curious about living in New Jersey? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of New Jersey.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in New Jersey matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether New Jersey is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in New Jersey
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether New Jersey is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in New Jersey:
- Lots to see and do. The beaches in the summer are a popular destination.
- Good opportunities for jobs with high pay.
- Lots of entertainment, with great sports teams to root for.
- Zach Braff’s “Garden State.”
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in New Jersey:
- Sky-high property taxes. New Jersey has some of the highest in the nation – which is one thing that makes living here difficult financially if you’re on a budget or just starting out.
- The cost of healthcare is also high, another expense that could make life more expensive than anticipated. It’s important before moving here to talk over these costs with your family members so there are no surprises later on down the line.
- The winters can be brutal but at the same time it’s a good excuse to stop and slow down when you need to take care of yourself. And don’t forget about those holidays like Halloween!
Read More: Is New Jersey a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in New Jersey
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in New Jersey? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in New Jersey!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in New Jersey.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in New Jersey:
- Haddonfield
- Jersey City
- Princeton
Read More: Best Places to Live in New Jersey
Checklist for Moving to New Jersey
So now you’re preparing for your big move to New Jersey. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to New Jersey.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to New Jersey:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your New Jersey driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to New Jersey
- Getting New Jersey car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in New Jersey and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in New Jersey.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for New Jersey and your previous home state.
Visit your New Jersey Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to New Jersey Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about New Jersey.
Things to Know About Living in New Jersey
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in New Jersey, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in New Jersey
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
New Jersey ranks 39th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 114.7, meaning it’s a relatively expensive place to live.
Here is how New Jersey scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 108.7
- Housing: 137
- Utilities: 104.6
- Transportation: 106.5
- Health: 96.6
- Miscellaneous: 106.6
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in New Jersey
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to New Jersey from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
New Jersey’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 6.63%.
Check with the New Jersey tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in New Jersey
If you own or plan to own real estate in New Jersey, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
New Jersey ranks 51st (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 2.49%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the New Jersey tax office for the most current tax rates.
New Jersey’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to New Jersey is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, New Jersey ranks 9th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Professional and business services
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Finance and insurance
- Retail trade
- Information
- Construction
- Transportation and warehousing
The top employer in New Jersey is Wakefern Food Corporation.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in New Jersey
Our New Jersey moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in New Jersey is Cape May Lighthouse.
National Monuments that you can find in New Jersey include:
- Statue of Liberty National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about New Jersey
New Jersey is the 3rd state of the United States that lies in the northeast region. To its north is New York, to its south is Delaware, to its east is the Atlantic Ocean, and to its west is Pennsylvania.
What is the capital of New Jersey?
The capital of New Jersey is Trenton.
Trenton is located in Mercer County with a population of 84,913.
What is the population of New Jersey?
The population of New Jersey based on 2020 US Census data is 9,288,994.
What is the largest city in New Jersey?
The largest city in New Jersey is Newark.
Newark has a population of 282,090, and it is located in Essex County.
What is the size of New Jersey?
New Jersey is 8,722 square miles, making it the 47th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of New Jersey?
The state motto of New Jersey is: Liberty and Prosperity
What is the state bird of New Jersey?
The state bird of New Jersey is the Eastern goldfinch (American goldfinch).
What is the state flower of New Jersey?
The state flower of New Jersey is the Violet.
What is the state tree of New Jersey?
The state tree of New Jersey is the Northern Red Oak.
What is the minimum wage in the state of New Jersey?
The minimum wage in New Jersey is $12.00 per hour.
What is the median income in New Jersey?
The median annual household salary in New Jersey is $81,740.