Are you considering a move to New Jersey? Nestled in the northeastern United States, New Jersey is unique for its cities & coastlines. As one state in the U.S. with the highest population density, this state has an expansive list of communities and lifestyles to offer. New Jersey’s offerings are just as unique and endless as the state itself. The state’s cons are just as apparent, as it features expensive housing and notorious traffic jams. Whether you are aiming to buy a house in Newark or looking for rental listings in Trenton, read this for the Pros and cons of living in New Jersey. Would you be living there temporarily? Would you be living there long-term? Find out if the New Jersey lifestyle is perfect for you.
Things to Know About New Jersey
| Population | 9,548,215 |
| Median home sale price | $515,550 |
| Average rent in New Jersey | $2400 |
Largest cities in New Jersey | Newark, Jersey City, Paterson |
Is New Jersey The Right Place for Your Next Move?
New Jersey has many families, professionals, and retirees moving there every year for its career, education, and urban opportunities. It’s also home to a wide range of environments, including quiet suburbs and bustling coastlines. New Jersey and Philadelphia are attractive to many because you can escape the congestion of city centers. New Jersey has an expanding economy with job security in several growing industries, including Healthcare, Finance, Technology, Logistics, and Pharmaceuticals. New Jersey is convenient for families because of its desirable public school systems, community-feel neighbourhoods, and diverse leisure options. Outdoor beaches, parks, and trails host year-round activities!
It goes without saying that moving to New Jersey will have its challenges, too. Housing prices and property taxes are considerably higher than in most states, away from the costlier urban states of the Northeast. Rush hour traffic may test your nerves, but most people will tell you it is a small price to pay for the work-life balance New Jersey offers and the convenience of proximity to everything.
If you want to relocate to grow your career, find top schools, or have access to major metropolitan areas, New Jersey is ideal. What’s great about the “Garden State” is its various towns and lifestyles, so no one has to guess which town is the best for them.
10 Pros and Cons of Living In New Jersey
Pro: Cape May Popular Destinations of Famous State Beaches
Huge beaches are on the cover of one of the most amazing places in New Jersey, which are accessible to the public since New Jersey is also home to more than 130 miles of sandy coastline of the amazing and beautiful Atlantic Ocean. This allows the people of New Jersey to comfortably enjoy the features of a coastal lifestyle. Some of the most popular places, such as Long Beach, Wildwood, and Cape May, offer sandy beaches as well as boundless fun throughout the summer. With so many different activities, peaceful swims, jogs, and sandy strolls, New Jersey features everything the people of New Jersey could want and always will have.
Con: Extremely High Expenses
As fun and busy as summer can be in New Jersey, the cost of living in New Jersey can be staggering. New Jersey is known to have the highest cost of living in all of the United States due to its cost of housing. Many of the areas in New Jersey that are relatively close to New York have homes that can cost about one million dollars (such as Hoboken, NJ) and have a rental cost of about $3,000 for a one-bedroom. Even the nice and quiet suburban areas in New Jersey with good schools and nice public transportation can have homes that are upward of $700,000. To make these costs worse, New Jersey also has some of the highest property taxes and utility bills in the entire country.
Pro: Historic Sites
New Jersey was the site of important events and people in the founding of the New World. The state is full of historic towns, monuments, and landmarks from the early years of the nation. Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are good reminders of the immigrants who fled to the U.S. for a better life. New Jersey was also a decisive state during the American Revolution. Preserved historic sites include the first battlegrounds and the Revolution’s Headquarters Museum. The State as a whole is unique, with miles of charming Victorian architecture in Cape May to waterfalls and the industrial history of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park.
Con: Taxes
One of the biggest disadvantages of living in New Jersey is the high amount of taxes paid. New Jersey has some of the highest tax rates in the United States. This makes being a homeowner much more expensive in New Jersey. Homeowners in New Jersey pay thousands of dollars a year in taxes, and the burden of high property taxes is included in the cost of living. New Jersey’s property tax rate is approximately 2300 dollars, which is much higher than the national average, which is under 1000. Homeowners and renters alike feel the costs of the high property taxes. Many public services, good schools and accessibility to major cities lend some convenience, but the high tax rate and high living costs make it hard for families and retirees to afford the state for the long term.
Pro: Job Opportunities
There are many considerable advantages of being employed in New Jersey because New Jersey has access to many jobs due to its proximity to large cities. Big jobs are located in cities. New Jersey has many public services in the fields of healthcare, finance, education and more. Private services are located in the technology, transportation, and pharmaceuticals fields. Because many companies are located in New Jersey, they have good economics. Businesses have good services and great transportation systems, making NJ really easy to commute from and keeping lucrative careers easy to achieve.
Con: Uncertain and Extreme Weather
New Jersey has all the seasons, and each can be filled with its own unique challenges. Summer’s heat and humidity can reach the 90s, and people can get easily overheated. In the winter, the northern regions get freezing temperatures and even snow to make travel and going about your regular activities more difficult, with the added danger of icy roads. Extreme weather does not stop with winter; every spring and fall, New Jersey gets heavy rain with flooding and coastal storms. Even hurricane season can bring property-threatening challenges to the community from naturally occurring problems. Power outages do more than frustrate homeowners when caused by Nor’easters. New Jersey has a lot of seasonal beauty, but changing weather can be a lot to manage.
Pro: Great Food
One of the most appealing things about New Jersey is the diversity of all the different kinds of cuisines in the state. New Jersey has all kinds of great meals available from all different kinds of cultures. There are famous diners and all kinds of family restaurants. New Jersey has some of the best fast food in America, with outstanding bagels, sandwiches, and pizza. All different kinds of customs and tastes are part of the state, with phenomenally diverse cities such as Atlantic City and Paterson. New Jersey also has a good mix of high and low foods, from gourmet restaurants to food on the street. Seasoned food lovers can enjoy gourmet meals and appreciate how the New Jersey culture incorporates all different cuisines, which is what makes New Jersey an extremely unique state.
Con: Heavy Traffic Congestion
Traffic is one of the most common complaints about living in New Jersey. Thousands of people commute to New York City and Philadelphia, and many of the highways are packed for hours. Traffic during inconvenient times means longer commute times, more delays and more stress for the driver. In some areas of the state, the inadequate public transportation means more people are driving, and congestion is worse. New Jersey can be the most ideal state in the country with well-planned and well-integrated road systems designed for new Jerseys proximity to businesses in New York, Philadelphia and other cities in the northeast, but for the people who live in New Jersey, unfortunately, traffic is an unpleasant reality of their daily routine.
Pro: Easy Access to Major Cities
Convenient placement relative to the major cities of the East Coast means one of the many perks to living in New Jersey. New York City, Philadelphia, and the other major cities are completely accessible. Catching a game and all the other city amenities that are only a short distance away is the sole reasons why a lot of people enjoy living in New Jersey. New Jersey has the perfect balance of city and suburban living because of the accessibility to public transportation and the proximity to the business districts. New Jersey is a great place for families, professionals and everyone who has a daily commute.
Con: Crowded Beaches During Tourist Season
One downside of living in New Jersey is the large number of tourists that arrive during the summer months. Popular shore destinations like Seaside Heights, Wildwood, and Atlantic City become extremely busy as visitors travel in to enjoy the beaches, boardwalk, restaurants, and entertainment. As a result local often deal with crowded streets, limited parking, longer wait times and heavy traffic, especially on weekends and holidays. While tourism plays an important role in the state’s economy, the seasonal crowds can make daily life more stressful for residents who live near the shore year-round.
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