DC to New Jersey Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 182 mile interstate move from DC to New Jersey? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs New Jersey across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs more affordable housing), food & health (like Half-smoke vs Taylor Ham/Pork Roll), real estate & housing (victorian & federals vs colonial & cape cods), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Half-smoke and Mumbo sauce on fried chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Taylor Ham/Pork Roll & Italian Hot Dog
- New Jersey housing costs are 17% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in New Jersey is 2.17% more expensive than in DC
- Moving from DC to New Jersey will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended DC to New Jersey movers is Bookstore Movers
DC to New Jersey Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to New Jersey
- High Cost of Living
- Traffic Congestion
- Political Tension
- More Affordable Housing
- Better Public Transit
- Quieter Suburban Life
- Less Urban Vibe
- Fewer Late-Night Spots
- Fewer Tourist Attractions
- Cultural Diversity
- Diverse Dining Options
- Historical Landmarks
Pros of moving from DC to New Jersey
- Say goodbye to high cost of living and hello to more affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to New Jersey with better public transit
- Swap the political tension of DC for quieter suburban life in New Jersey
Cons of moving from DC to New Jersey
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural diversity in DC to live with less urban vibe in New Jersey
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse dining options and have to settle for the con of fewer late-night spots
- Time to bid farewell to historical landmarks and get used to fewer tourist attractions in New Jersey
DC vs. New Jersey: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-smoke | Taylor Ham/Pork Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo sauce on fried chicken | Italian Hot Dog |
Most popular street food item | Jumbo Slice | Salt Water Taffy |
Most popular vegan food | Plant-based half-smoke | Impossible Burger |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | šŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖ | šŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“ | š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“ |
Vegan Friendly | š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š± | š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š± |
If you're moving from DC to New Jersey, you will be trading the iconic Half-smoke of DC for the equally delicious Taylor Ham/Pork Roll of New Jersey. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo sauce on fried chicken and sumptuous Jumbo Slice, New Jersey residents know they have tasty Italian Hot Dog and Salt Water Taffy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Plant-based Half-smoke they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Impossible Burger of New Jersey. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and Rose's Luxury. After the boxes are unpacked in New Jersey, don't wait too long before making your way to New Jersey's acclaimed eateries like Don's Deli, Rat's Restaurant, and Battello.
When comparing lifestyles, New Jersey shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in New Jersey compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in New Jersey.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and New Jersey
Comparison | DC | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian & Federals | Colonial & Cape Cods |
Walkability | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Bikeability | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² |
Urban Lifestyle | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to Metro, Rooftop Decks | Backyards, Proximity to NYC |
- The Victorian and Federal architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of New Jersey.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to metro stations and rooftop decks, New Jersey real estate listings often highlight features like backyards and proximity to NYC.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; New Jersey is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; New Jersey is less bike-friendly than DC.
- New Jersey has less of an urban feel than DC.
- New Jersey housing costs are 17% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $512,908 compared to DCās $619,320.
- Over the prior five years, home prices in New Jersey have increased by 50% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in New Jersey is 2.17% more expensive than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and New Jersey
Comparison | DC | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø | āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø |
Avg. Annual Humidity | š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦ | š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦ |
Avg. UV Index | š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø | š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, severe storms | Hurricanes, blizzards, floods |
Air Quality | Moderate | Varies by area |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 88/71 | 85/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 47/29 | 40/25 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 39.74 | 47.1 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.4 | 23.0 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from DC to New Jersey. New Jersey gets 1% more sunshine days than DC.
- New Jersey has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and severe storms in DC, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes, blizzards, and floods in New Jersey.
- The average summer high temperature in New Jersey is 3 degrees colder than in DC.
- The average winter lows in New Jersey are 4 degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New Jersey. New Jersey receives 7.4 more inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and New Jersey
Comparison | DC | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $96,346 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 129.7 |
State Income Tax | 4.0 - 8.95 | 1.4 - 10.75 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56 | 2.21 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.0 | 6.625 |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Education, Health Services | Pharmaceuticals, Financial Services, Telecommunications |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Significant | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Jersey tend to earn about 5% less than those in DC
- The COLI in New Jersey is 7% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in NJ is 1.4 to 10.75 compared to 4.0 to 8.95 in DC
- The affluence in New Jersey is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is low in New Jersey compared to moderate in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in DC and manageable in New Jersey
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. New Jersey
Comparison | DC | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Moderately Democratic |
Local Politics | Focused on federal government impact | Local concerns with balanced federal awareness |
Religion | Diverse, with no single dominating faith | Diverse, Catholicism being significant |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- New Jersey, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Democratic
- New Jersey's religious environment can be described as diverse, with Catholicism being significant
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, with no single dominating faith
Education Guide When Moving from DC to New Jersey
Comparison | DC | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Georgetown University Howard University American University | Princeton University Rutgers University-New Brunswick The College of New Jersey |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mann Elementary Janney Elementary Eaton Elementary | Littlebrook Elementary (Princeton) Princeton Charter School (Princeton) Riverside Elementary (Princeton) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School Alice Deal Middle School | Community Middle School (Plainsboro) Thomas R. Grover Middle School (West Windsor) William Annin Middle School (Basking Ridge) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Wilson High School School Without Walls Banneker High School | Princeton High School (Princeton) West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North (Plainsboro) Millburn High School (Millburn) |
Top 3 private high schools | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School Maret School | The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Delbarton School (Morristown) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School Maret School | The Lawrenceville School The Pingry School Blair Academy (Blairstown) |
Top 3 School Districts | DC Public Schools | Princeton Public Schools West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District Millburn Township Schools |
How Much Do DC to New Jersey Movers Cost?
Moving 182 miles from DC to New Jersey will typically cost between $1,500 and $4,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $1,500 - $4,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-6.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Express Haulers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,110 | 300 ft3 | $3.70 |
1 Bedroom | $1,646 | 450 ft3 | $3.66 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,711 | 750 ft3 | $3.61 |
3 Bedrooms | $3,929 | 1100 ft3 | $3.57 |
4 Bedrooms | $5,647 | 1600 ft3 | $3.53 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,276 | 1800 ft3 | $3.49 |
Top DC to New Jersey Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to New Jersey movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.