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Important Pros and Cons of Living in NJ Cities

The Honest Pros and Cons of Living in NJ

For those considering a move to NJ, the Garden State offers both opportunities and some challenges. Its proximity to two major cities (NYC and Philadelphia) make it a great option for people who want to have access to all of the amenities of a big city without the high cost of living. While moving to NJ might be appealing to you, your first step is to weigh the pros and cons of living in NJ to help you make informed decisions about your ideal home. Once you’ve done that, you can start looking for movers NJ residents can rely on to help make the transition smoother.

The Pros of Moving to New Jersey

High Quality of Life

There aren’t many states that offer good schools, healthcare, job market, etc. but New Jersey checks almost everything off on the list. As of 2023, New Jersey is currently ranked as the 5th happiest state in the country. When you move to New Jersey you can enjoy:

  • Excellent public schools – the schools in NJ are ranked as the 3rd best in the states
  • Wide variety of outdoor activities – from hiking to hanging out at the beach, NJ offers it all
  • Great healthcare – New Jersey ranks 4th in the US for best healthcare

What more can you ask for? Of course, that high quality of life also comes with a higher cost of living, especially in the most sought after cities such as Hoboken, Montclair, and Princeton, Still, when compared to NYC you’ll be able to get a larger apartment for the amount of rent you might pay for a studio or one bedroom. You might even be able to buy a house!

Easily Access Other Locations

If you can’t find something you want in your city or town, you can easily get to Philadelphia or New York City depending on which part of New Jersey you move to. Depending on where you decide to move, you might even be able to access these cities via Amtrak or the NJ Transit. The ease of access to these major cities is one of the many reasons why so many people end up working in NYC and living in New Jersey.

More into nature? Then New Jersey offers a wide variety of options. There are amazing national parks dotted all over the state including:

  • Ringwood State Park in Ringwood
  • Allaire State Park in Wall Township
  • High Point State Park in Sussex
  • Vorhees State Park in Glen Gardner

And more. All of these parks have beautiful hiking trails with many providing gorgeous vistas and views of waterfalls. If you’re more of a fan of beaches, there are plenty to choose from as NJ has 130 miles of shoreline. Some of the popular beaches you can visit include:

  • Stone Harbor
  • Cape May
  • Point Pleasant Beach
  • Keansburg Beach

Bored of New Jersey? Then you can enjoy some amazing hiking in New York or head down to Cape Cod for the weekend. And while New Jersey does have some ski slopes, you’re also not too far from Vermont or New Hampshire slopes.

Mild and Amazing Seasons

If you’re a fan of the seasons, then you’re in luck as New Jersey has all four of them. More importantly, the seasons are fairly evenly split across the year so you only have to deal with three months of cold during the winter.

Despite its small size, there are distinct temperature differences between the north and south regions of the state. South Jersey can be described as subtropical where you will get hot, humid summers and cold, wet winters. North Jersey has more of a continental climate which has hot summers and cold winters with little rainfall. Whichever option you choose, you can expect to also enjoy the beautiful colors of both spring and fall.

Speaking of weather, while hurricanes and tornadoes can happen in New Jersey, they are rare. Instead, you’ll probably have to deal with blizzards during the winter and heavy thunderstorms during the summer. Besides this, New Jersey doesn’t experience as much inclement weather as some other states further south. Still, when it does get hit by severe weather, the areas closest to the oceans and rivers tend to suffer the most damage.

Family-Focused Entertainment

Besides enjoying the great outdoors, New Jersey offers a ton of family-friendly activities to do that are cheap or free to the public. Some popular attractions include:

  • The State Fair in the Meadowlands – runs for about three weeks from June to July
  • Six Flags Great Adventures – located in Jackson Township and home to 14 roller coasters and 350-acre safari
  • Crystal Springs Waterpark – located in East Brunswick, it is the first municipal waterpark in New Jersey
  • Howell Living History Farm – located in Lambertville, NJ it offers a variety of classes and holiday events
  • New Jersey State Museum – located in Trenton, you can visit the museum for free! Its collections include natural history specimens, archaeological artifacts, and fine art objects.
  • Big Brook Park Fossil Site – located throughout Monmouth County along Big Brook. You can explore the area and potentially find some amazing fossils.
  • You pick your own farms – there are dozens of farms in New Jersey and many offer a variety of you-pick-your-own foods like strawberry, blackberry, apples, and pumpkins.

Secure Neighborhood Areas

Like most states, New Jersey’s large cities tend to have high crime rates due to the number of people living in a small area. However, the majority of the state is extremely safe. In fact, New Jersey was named the safest state in the United States! This is based on 37 metrics organized into 6 key indicators of crime and prevention: personal safety, public safety, financial safety, mental health, transportation and infrastructure, and public security.

When compared to other states, New Jersey has the lowest rate of sexual assault and sexual offenders per capita. On top of that, it has one of the lowest aggravated assaults per capita. And if you’re looking to find a job in New Jersey, you’ll be happy to hear that New Jersey has the second lowest rate of fatal occupational injuries.

All this to say, New Jersey is a great place to live if you’re concerned about safety. With that said, you should always check the safety maps for the cities and/or towns you are considering so you can get a clearer picture of potential safety issues.

The Disadvantages of Living in New Jersey

Highest Tax Rates

If you want to buy a home in New Jersey, be prepared to pay high taxes as New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation at 2.49 percent. What’s more, houses themselves aren’t cheap. The average home price is around $471,000, which is 10 percent higher than the national average.

Combine the high home prices with the high property taxes and you’re paying a lot more per month for your house than you might in other locations. Luckily, there are plenty of great jobs that pay well in New Jersey, so it might not be so bad.

The state ranks in the top five nationally when it comes to the tax burden put on its residents. In addition to property taxes, you can expect to pay 6.625% in sales tax and between 1.4%-10.75% in income tax. If you’re moving from states that don’t take income taxes, you might be shocked with how much less money you’re getting in your paycheck.

High Living Expenses

You might get a high quality of life, but it will cost you. In addition to high taxes, it’s expensive to live in New Jersey. Almost every cost of living item is higher than the national average with the exception of healthcare. Below is a breakdown of the costs of living in New Jersey compared to the national average:

  • Housing – 31 percent higher
  • Utilities – 8 percent higher
  • Food – 6 percent higher
  • Transportation – 6 percent higher
  • Goods & Services – 4 percent higher
  • Healthcare – 5 percent lower

Of course, your cost of living will change based on where you live. For example, Hoboken’s overall cost of living is 60 percent higher than the national average compared to Vineland, NJ which is 4 percent lower than the national average. Depending on your budget, you might want to look in towns that are less popular though that might mean less amenities and proximity to major cities.

Traffic Flow

You think NYC traffic is bad? Wait until you get to New Jersey. Due to the high number of commuters and just generally bad highway and street layout (and maybe bad drivers), New Jersey has been identified as having the worst traffic in the country and the worst bottleneck. Traveling into NYC by car can be a nightmare if you’re driving and can often take 30 minutes to an hour to get through the Lincoln or Holland Tunnel.

Why is traffic so bad in New Jersey? It’s because of a combination of things such as a large population (New Jersey is the one of the most densely populated states in the US), job growth, and suburban sprawl. Traffic is expected to only get worse as more and more people choose to live away from expensive cities.

High Population Density

Speaking of traffic, one of the biggest reasons why the traffic is so bad is because so many people live in New Jersey. Despite its small size, New Jersey is home to over 9 million people. While most of that population is concentrated into the major cities, it can be hard to find a quiet place away from crowds. And with more and more people moving into the state every year, even if you live in a smaller town, chances are you’ll start seeing new home construction in the next five years.

A dense population isn’t always a bad thing. It also brings with it more job opportunities, amenities, and entertainment. However, if you like the peace and quiet, it might be hard to find in New Jersey.

Is New Jersey Right for You?

If the downsides of New Jersey don’t seem too bad, then there’s no better place to move. It’s a great place to live with some of the best healthcare, education, and jobs in the United States. Plus, if you need to get away from people, you can always take a breather in one of the many national parks around the state.

Once you’ve decided to make your NJ move, call us up! We are expert NJ movers who understand all the little quirks of the NJ streets.

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Pros and Cons of Living in NJ While Working in NYC

Pros and Cons of Living in NJ While Working in NYC

Many New Yorkers might consider NYC the best city in the world, but not everyone feels the same way. Sure, there are plenty of perks to living in The Big Apple such as world-class restaurants, storied cultural institutions, and hard-to-beat convenience. However, access to everything New York City has to offer doesn’t come cheap. Renting in NYC is expensive for the size you get and overall cost of living is significantly higher than other parts of the United States. On top of that, you have to pay extra tax for living in NYC!

Instead of staying in NYC, many people have opted to move to New Jersey for the cheaper rents and larger living spaces. In fact, around 320,000 people commute from NJ to NYC on a daily basis! Before you decide to take the plunge you should first familiarize yourself with all the aspects of living in NJ and working in NYC beforehand.

Pros of living in New Jersey while working in NYC

There’s a lot to love about live in New Jersey and more people are starting to leave the city for greener pastures. Here are some reasons why people are making the decision to live the commuter life.

Location

New Jersey has access to several large cities: New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. No matter where you live, you’re not far from a major highway and there’s also many public transportation options that can shuttle you between NYC and Philadelphia.

If you want more time in nature, New Jersey offers plenty of outdoor options from hiking to skiing to camping. It’s also home to Wharton State Forest, which is the largest single tract of land within the NJ State Park System with over 120,000 acres spread across three counties. During the summer you can enjoy the many beaches New Jersey has to offer. While the Jersey shore might have gotten a bad rep due to the reality TV show, there are plenty of towns that boast beautiful beaches such as Wildwood Crest, Cape May, Stone Harbor, and Ocean Grove.

If you plan on commuting to New York City for work, you’ll want to focus your search on the northern part of New Jersey. The popular locations in New Jersey tend to be those that have direct access to the PATH trains which can take you into Manhattan in about 15-20 minutes. Of course, due to its proximity to Manhattan, you can expect to pay higher rents but it’s worth it if you don’t want to waste 30+ minutes on your morning and evening commute. In some cases, commuting from Hoboken or Jersey City might actually be faster than commuting from some of the outer boroughs, especially if you work in Midtown.

Speaking of location, New Jersey is also home to Newark International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world just behind Kennedy International Airport in New York City. The airport is easily accessible by the NJ Transit system and you can find a direct flight to almost anywhere in the world. It’s perfect for people who travel a lot either for business or pleasure.

Lower Cost of Living

One of the biggest reasons why people choose to move to New Jersey while still working in NYC is because it’s cheaper. Sure, cities like Hoboken and Jersey City might see comparable prices, but you’re probably getting more indoor and, in some cases, outdoor space. Heck, it might even be feasible to buy an actual house in New Jersey for the price you would pay for a co-op or condo in NYC. With that said, New Jersey has some of the highest property taxes in the United States, so if you do choose to buy, make sure you know what you’re getting into.

Your salary also goes a lot further in New Jersey. The cost of everyday necessities such as food, gas, and utilities tend to be lower. Plus, your paycheck will go further in New Jersey because you’re dealing with fewer taxes. Say goodbye to the New York City income tax and hello to a lower income tax. While you will need to file two tax returns if you live in New Jersey and work in NYC, you will receive a tax credit for any taxes that you paid for New York. That prevents you from being taxed on the same income by both states. Just make sure to file your New York State tax return first to receive the tax credit.

Speaking of taxes, you’re also paying less in sales tax overall. New York has a sales tax of 8.875% while New Jersey has a sales tax of 6.625%. If you shop in an area that is designated as an Urban Enterprise Zone, you will only have to pay half the standard sales tax rate. You’re saving money while you shop!

Great Quality of Life

If you have kids or plan on having them, one of the most important choices when choosing your home location is its school system. Luckily, New Jersey has some of the best schools in the nation. In fact, New Jersey has the second-highest high school graduation rate with around 90.6 percent of students graduating and the state’s public school has been named one of the best in the nation. Of course, that depends on where you live. If you have children, you might want to move to the following school districts:

  • Millburn Township
  • Princeton
  • Ridgewood
  • Tenafly
  • West Windsor-Plainsboro
  • Livingston

New Jersey is also home to the prestigious Princeton University, Stevens Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, and Seton Hall University.

You’re also not missing out on too much even if you don’t live in the heart of NYC. New Jersey has plenty of cultural institutions, entertainment, restaurants, and other amenities to the point where there’s no reason to really go into NYC. If you’re a lover of the arts, then you’ll be thrilled to know that New Jersey is home to 700 arts organizations. Sports fans can head over to the MetLife Stadium to watch both the NJ Jets and NYC Giants play. Afterwards, you can grab a bite at some of the delicious restaurants that dot the state. Speaking of which, if you’re looking for some of the best NY pizza slices, they’re in New Jersey!

Cons of living in New Jersey while working in NYC

Living in New Jersey isn’t all sunshines and rainbows. There are some downsides to consider before you decide to make your move.

It’s not New York

There’s something about New York City that is enticing to people from around the world. For some, it’s the possibility of making it big in their field whether that’s as an actor, tech innovator, or investor. For others, the convenience of NYC is the biggest draw. Everything you could possibly want is at your fingertips and can probably be delivered to your door. And since the public transportation system is fairly reliable, you don’t need a car in NYC. In fact, about 50 percent of NYC residents don’t have a driver’s license.

While you can get a lot of those same benefits in certain areas of New Jersey, the further away you get from the city, the fewer amenities you can expect. Plus, places like Hoboken and New Jersey City might be busy, but even it simply doesn’t have the same energy as NYC. Some people thrive off that buzz. If that’s you, it can be hard to find that anywhere else.

Commuting

The PATH train might not be horrible, but if it goes down you don’t have too many other transportation options to get into the city besides a ferry and maybe a bus. In the worst case scenario, there might not even be any alternative transportation options. This issue becomes worse the further away from NYC you move so if you have to depend on NJ transit buses or trains, you might not be able to make it into work.

Unless you work directly off the PATH or NJ Transit stops in Manhattan, your commuting costs will be higher than if you live in NYC. Sure, the PATH train costs the same as a fare, but since you cannot use your monthly Metrocard for the PATH, you’re effectively paying double the price if you need to take the subway to your job. It’s the same for the NJ Transit trains and buses. The fares aren’t too expensive, but it adds up when you combine it with your subway fare.

The unreliability of public transportation is one of the reasons why many New Jersey residents opt to drive to work. This comes with its own costs, of course. You’ll have to pay for insurance, gas, maintenance, and more. Plus, you’ll have to deal with horrible traffic during rush hour. What should be a 20 minute drive will often take over an hour during the morning and evening commute. You’ll also have to pay high tolls to get into NYC.

Property Taxes

In almost every other aspect, New Jersey is cheaper when it comes to taxes. That is until you get into property taxes. New Jersey has some of the highest property taxes in the United States. If you plan on buying a home, you can end up paying a very high tax rate depending on the area. In most cases, the cities/towns with the best schools tend to have the highest property taxes.

While property tax rates tend to change over the years, the average property tax for a home in New Jersey (2.42%) is nearly three times the amount as in New York City (0.88%). Of course, you might end up paying more in actual tax in NYC versus New Jersey as your rate is calculated by multiplying the taxable value of your property by the current tax rate for your property’s tax class.

And while you have the benefit of owning your home instead of renting, it also comes with more costs. In general, when you rent you don’t have to pay for heat or hot water. However, when you own your home, you have to pay for everything! That means extra bills on top of your mortgage, homeowner’s insurance, HOA fees, taxes, etc. This can really eat into your savings.

Moving to New Jersey

Once you’ve weighed the pros and cons of living in New Jersey and commuting to NYC it’s up to you to decide whether you want to relocate or not. If you do decide to make a move, make sure to call up qualified NJ movers to help you out so you can get started on the right foot.