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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.

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What You Need to Know Before Moving to NJ from New York

What You Need to Know Before Moving to NJ from New York

There’s a certain excitement to New York City that many other cities simply can’t replicate. There’s always something happening regardless of the time of day and regardless of what niche interests you might have, chances are you’ll find your people. NYC’s diversity is what often draws people to it. Still, while 150,000 people move to the city every year around 100,000 people move out for a variety of reasons.

If you’re considering a New Jersey move, there are a few things you should consider before taking the plunge. You’ll want to set some expectations beforehand so you’re not disappointed after moving to NJ. Once you have all the information and are ready, make sure to give us a call!

Tax Differences Between Two Cities

One of the biggest differences between New York City and New Jersey is the taxes. New York might have the highest state and local taxes combined at 12.7%, but New Jersey isn’t too far behind at 12.2%. More importantly, you’re not making the extra New York City tax even if you end up living in New Jersey but working in the city. Depending on your salary, you could be saving thousands of dollars at the end of the year. Yes, you’ll have to file in both states, but New Jersey lets you take the tax you already paid as a credit against your New Jersey tax liability.

Shopping is also less expensive in New Jersey. Regardless of what borough you live in, you will have to pay an extra 8.875% in sales tax. In comparison, New Jersey’s statewide sales tax is 6.625%. Some areas are even lower if they are in designated enterprise zones. For example, if you shop in Jersey City, the sales tax is only 3.5%!

The one area where New Jersey beats New York when it comes to taxes is property tax. In fact, New Jersey has the highest property tax in the country at 2.4%. Even in New York City, property tax reaches a max of around 1.925%. Still, considering how much you’re saving in other areas, it might be worth it to pay higher property taxes since you’ll be bringing more money home.

Commuting System: Which Is Better?

While NYC has excellent public transportation options, New Jersey isn’t too shabby either. The state has a low rate of car ownership at 29 cars per 100 people and you really don’t need a car as you can get pretty much anywhere via the PATH train, Amtrak, and NJ Transit. You can easily access NYC and Philadelphia with no issues.

If you live in Jersey City or Hoboken, NYC is a short 15 to 20 minute train ride away on the PATH. Cost-wise, you pay the same amount of money as you would for a one-way Metro Card. However, you do not get free transfers like you would if you were riding the subway. If you plan on taking the subway anywhere else, you’ll have to pay the cost of another ride.

When it comes to taking the NJ Transit or Amtrak, prices increase drastically as it is directly tied to the distance you travel. You’ll need to plan out your trip carefully as well as the trains don’t come as often as the PATH with some arriving once an hour.

As good as NJ public transportation is, it’s hard to stack it up against NYC since the subways run 24/7 and if one of the train lines goes down, you have other options to choose from. Of course, you’re comparing the transit system for a city versus an entire state so there are going to be differences when it comes to convenience and reliability. If you want to get around the state easily, your best bet is to get a car. Just remember that owning a car means extra costs such as gas, insurance, tolls, etc.

Affordable Housing Comparison Between Two Cities

Even in expensive cities like Hoboken and Jersey City, apartment costs are significantly lower when compared to NYC. The prices might look similar, but instead of only paying for a one-bedroom for $3,000/month, you’re getting a two-bedroom. The extra space is one of the major reasons many people move to New Jersey despite working in NYC.

If you’re looking to expand your family, buying a house is much more affordable than trying to buy an apartment in NYC. Sure, some locations aren’t cheap, but you’re getting an entire house versus an apartment in a building. You’ll have more space to work with and, depending on the area you choose, some nice yardage where you can relax and enjoy the weather. Plus, you’re building equity. Unlike apartments where your monthly rent doesn’t pay for anything, your mortgage payments go towards paying off your home. Eventually, you’ll own the house completely and can pass it on to your children. Even better, you’re able to deduct the interest you paid on your mortgage up to $1 million in mortgage debt.

Of course, being a homeowner also means you are responsible for everything. If something doesn’t work in your NYC apartment or the roof leaks, you just need to call the super or building manager and they will send someone to fix it. You don’t have to worry about paying for it since maintenance is included in your rent. When it comes to a home, you’re responsible for everything. That also means paying all the bills including heating, water, taxes, and even trash collection in some places. And that’s on top of potential repairs and maintenance. It can definitely add up so make sure you factor in these monthly costs to see if you’re truly ready for homeownership.

Check the Weather in Both Cities

While NYC has its fair share of extreme weather events, New Jersey hasn’t escaped unscathed either. In many cases, New Jersey often faired worse than NYC when it came to catastrophic weather due to its geography. Being located along the ocean means there are great beaches, but also extreme weather patterns you’ll need to contend with. You’ll be in the range of hurricanes and nor’easters. If you’re thinking about moving to Hoboken, consider finding a place on higher ground as Hoboken has a habit of flooding.

When you’re not dealing with storms or blizzards, you get to experience the full gamut of seasons and experience the beautiful and colorful display during the fall and spring seasons. Winters tend to be cold but bearable and the average summers tend to be hot and humid. Still, New Jersey has 130 miles of coastline to enjoy during the summer months.

Hire Professional NJ Movers for Your Move

It’s important to understand to pros and cons of moving to New Jersey before committing to an apartment or home. You want to be as prepared as possible before taking the plunge. Once you’ve done your research and made your decision, reach out to trusted NJ movers to help you with your relocation. We at NJ Great Movers have been working in New Jersey for over 10 years so we can help you get organized and situated. You have enough on your plate so let us take the moving part out of the equation!

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Best Places to Live in New Jersey in 2024

Best Places to Live in New Jersey 2022

The new year brings with it new opportunities including a chance to find a new home. While many New Yorkers like to make fun of New Jersey, the state itself has a lot to offer from national parks to amazing beaches. If you’re in the market for a new home this year, moving to New Jersey might be in the cards. Not only can you get more space for the money you would spend on apartments in New York City, but you also aren’t too far away from the city life.

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows in New Jersey. You’re also dealing with high taxes, expensive homes, insane traffic, lots of landfills, and a lot of people (NJ is actually the most densely populated state with 9.3 million residents residing within the 7,354 square miles that make up the state). However, if you know where to look you can find some amazing places where you can experience all of the benefits with very few negatives. Below are some of the best places to live in New Jersey.

Princeton – A Popular University City

As the name suggests, this town is home to the prestigious Ivy League university of the same name. However, it boasts more than just an amazing university. The town is home to 31,000 residents including many young families and professionals. Thanks to the presence of the university, the town boasts a more urban feel and has a wide variety of restaurants, coffee shops, local retail shops, and cultural attractions. There’s also plenty of green spaces for you to enjoy during those warm summer days either at Morven Museum & Garden or Princeton Battlefield State Park.

While Princeton might be most known for the university, the emphasis on education is apparent at all levels. In fact, Princeton has some of the best public schools in the entire state. You can easily start a family, living in Princeton and have them attend excellent schools from kindergarten to college. Besides offering world-class education, Princeton University also has some excellent college lacrosse and basketball teams. So don the school colors (orange and black) and cheer with your neighbors.

Chatham: A Great Location for Families and Professionals

Located less than 25 miles away from Manhattan, Chatham offers all the charm of a quiet neighborhood while still being close enough to the bustle of a large city. It’s a great location for families and professionals as the downtown offers a great selection of restaurants and local stores to shop from. It’s also commuter-friendly and you can easily get around the town without a car. Of course, if you do want to travel outside of the town you have access to well-maintained roads and public transportation thanks to the NJ Transit.

Chatham is a great place for families. It’s safe and has plenty of family-friendly recreational locations to choose from. It’s located close to the Thomas Edison National Historic Park, which preserves Thomas Edison’s lab and residence where you can check out his inventions and tour the grounds. There’s also Liberty Hall Museum and Arboretum where you and your children can explore the mansion that hosted many distinguished guests such as George Washington, William Howard Taft, and Benjamin Franklin. Chatham is also home to some amazing public schools that are rated some of the best in New Jersey.

Elizabeth: One of the Largest Cities in New Jersey

If you’re still working in New York City, then Elizabeth might be a great option for you as it has two train stations and is close to both the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike. With a population of 128,000, Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey. While housing prices aren’t cheap, you could potentially find a decent place for around $400,000. When compared to places like Princeton or Chatham, that price tag doesn’t look so bad!

One of the greatest strengths of Elizabeth is its diversity as it is home to 37 different languages and residents from 50 different countries. If you’re a foodie, you’ll be happy to find cuisine from around the world whether you’re looking for Columbian, Indian, Japanese, or Portuguese. There’s definitely something for everyone and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home. Of course, if you want to, Elizabeth is very pedestrian-friendly and thanks to the two train stations, you probably don’t need a car unless you plan on visiting other areas of New Jersey.

Thanks to its large size, it’s also relatively to find a job in Elizabeth and the city even offers incentives to business owners to bring commerce to the community. If you’re an entrepreneur, this could be a great place to start.

Ho-Ho-Kus: A Small Community for Peaceful Living

If you’re looking for a more small-town feel, then Ho-Ho-Kus might be the place you’re looking for. This quaint town is home to around 4,000 people and, as you would imagine, is a very tight-knit community. Despite that, the residents are welcoming so you don’t have to worry about feeling iced out by your neighbors when you move in. While many of the residents have spent their entire lives in the area, many still are transplants who wanted a quieter lifestyle with more nature.

Despite its small population, Ho-Ho-Kus offers a cute downtown lined with shops and restaurants as well as a commercial center and train station. If you’re looking for a bit more nature, you just need to travel a short distance and you’ll find yourself walking along Saddle River or Brewster Pond. The area does have an elementary and middle school, though kids will have to go outside the town for high school. Due to its attractive amenities and picturesque scenery, houses are not cheap in Ho-Ho-Kus, but if you can afford it, it’s a wonderful place to live.

Springdale: The Best Suburb in New Jersey

If you prefer being closer to Philadelphia than New York City, then Springdale might be the perfect option. Located just over 45 miles from Philadelphia, Springdale is a neighborhood of Cherry Hill, NJ, and offers quiet suburban living with city life just under an hour away so you get to enjoy both the quiet and peaceful streets and small-town vibe without sacrificing the delights of a big city. Compared to some of the places on this list, Springdale is on the more affordable end when it comes to home prices.

With a population of under 14,000 Springdale offers a sparse suburban feel. While there is a downtown, you’ll mostly find big-box retailers and chain stores. If you want an active nightlife scene, this might not be the best option as Springdale is home mainly to families and retirees. With that said, the restaurants are quite good and there are other amenities such as local gyms, pools, and close proximity to some green areas such as Pennypacker Park and Wharton State Park. As it is a neighborhood in Cherry Hill, you also have access to top-tier public and private schools. In 2021, Springdale was ranked in the top ten of best suburbs to live in New Jersey.

Moving to NJ

Once you’re ready to make your NJ move, why not give trusted professional movers a call to help make your transition smoother? NJ Great Movers offers plenty of moving services and we can cater to your needs and budget. We also know New Jersey like the back of our hand and can get you moved into your new place with no issues. As a trusted NJ moving company, our goal is to make your move as stress and hassle-free as possible. So give us a call and we’ll get you started on the moving process.