Florida to New Jersey Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 1,097 mile interstate move from Florida to New Jersey? This moving guide will help you compare living in Florida vs New Jersey across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hurricane season vs milder storm impact), food & health (like Key Lime Pie vs Taylor Ham/Pork Roll), real estate & housing (mediterranean vs colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Jersey), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Key Lime Pie and Cuban Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Taylor Ham/Pork Roll & Italian Hot Dog
- New Jersey housing costs are 29% more expensive than they are in Florida
- Rent in New Jersey is 10.19% more expensive than in Florida
- Moving from Florida to New Jersey will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Florida to New Jersey movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Florida to New Jersey Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Florida to New Jersey
- Hurricane season
- High humidity
- Limited public transport
- Sand-heavy beaches
- Flat terrain
- Milder storm impact
- Cooler summers
- Comprehensive transit network
- Scenic rock beaches
- Varied landscapes
- Cold winters
- Higher cost of living
- State income tax
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Less waterfront access
- Year-round sunshine
- Affordable housing
- No state income tax
- Laid-back lifestyle
- Waterfront properties
Pros of moving from Florida to New Jersey
- Say goodbye to hurricane season and hello to milder storm impact
- Look forward to moving away from high humidity and moving to New Jersey with cooler summers
- Swap the limited public transport of Florida for a comprehensive transit network in New Jersey
- Get ready for scenic rock beaches in New Jersey
Cons of moving from Florida to New Jersey
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from year-round sunshine in Florida to live with cold winters in New Jersey
- You'll lose out on the pro of affordable housing and have to settle for the con of a higher cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to no state income tax and get used to a state income tax in New Jersey
- Swap a laid-back lifestyle for a fast-paced lifestyle
Florida vs. New Jersey: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Florida | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Key Lime Pie | Taylor Ham/Pork Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Cuban Sandwich | Italian Hot Dog |
Most popular street food item | Cuban Sandwich | Pretzels |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit Tacos | Vegan Pizza |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Florida to New Jersey, you will be trading the iconic Key Lime Pie of Florida for the equally delicious Taylor Ham/Pork Roll of New Jersey. And while the locals in Florida rave about their flavorful Cuban Sandwich and sumptuous Cuban Sandwich, New Jersey residents know they have tasty Italian Hot Dog and Pretzels to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Jackfruit Tacos they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Pizza of New Jersey. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Florida eateries like Joe’s Stone Crab, Versailles Restaurant, and Bern’s Steak House. 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, Hobby’s Delicatessen, and Carlo’s Bakery.
When comparing lifestyles, New Jersey shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Florida. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in New Jersey compared to what you are used to in Florida. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in New Jersey.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Florida and New Jersey
Comparison | Florida | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Mediterranean | Colonial |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Pool, Waterfront | Proximity to NYC, Good Schools |
- The Mediterranean architecture that Florida is known for will be replaced with the Colonial architecture typical of New Jersey.
- Compared to Florida's real estate listings that commonly reference pools and waterfronts, New Jersey real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to NYC and good schools.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Jersey is more walkable than Florida.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Jersey is more bike-friendly than Florida.
- New Jersey has more of an urban feel than Florida.
- New Jersey housing costs are 29% more expensive than they are in Florida, with a median home price of $512,908 compared to Florida’s $397,137.
- Over the prior five years, home prices in New Jersey have increased by 50% compared to a 66% increase in Florida.
- Rent in New Jersey is 10.19% more expensive than in Florida.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Florida and New Jersey
Comparison | Florida | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Tropical Storms | Blizzards, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate to Good |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 90°F/75°F | 85°F/66°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 70°F/48°F | 40°F/25°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 54" | 47" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0" | 23" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Florida to New Jersey. New Jersey gets 13% fewer sunshine days than Florida.
- New Jersey has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Florida.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and hurricanes in New Jersey.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in New Jersey is 5 degrees colder than in Florida.
- The average winter lows are 23 degrees colder than they are in Florida.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Jersey. New Jersey receives 7 fewer inches of rain compared to Florida.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Florida and New Jersey
Comparison | Florida | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,303 | $96,346 |
Cost of Living Index | 97.8 | 129.7 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.5% - 10.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 2.21% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 6.625% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Agriculture, Space | Pharmaceuticals, Finance, Telecommunications |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Visible | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Jersey tend to earn about 39% more than those in Florida
- The COLI in New Jersey will be 33% higher than what you are used to living in Florida
- Bummer... By moving from FL to NJ, you'll now have a state income tax of 4.5% to 10.75%
- The affluence in New Jersey is high compared to moderate affluence in Florida
- The poverty level is low in New Jersey compared to moderate poverty in Florida
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in Florida and low in New Jersey
Political and Religious Climate in Florida vs. New Jersey
Comparison | Florida | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, with a slight Republican lean in recent elections | Leans Democratic, especially in federal elections |
Local Politics | Varies by region, with northern areas more conservative | Democratic in urban areas like <a href="https://www.jerseycitynj.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Jersey City</a> and Newark |
Religion | Diverse, with a significant Christian population | Diverse, includes a significant portion of Jewish communities |
- Florida tends to lean mixed, with a slight Republican lean in its political climate
- New Jersey, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic, especially in federal elections
- New Jersey's religious environment can be described as diverse, including a significant portion of Jewish communities
- Florida's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, with a significant Christian population
Education Guide When Moving from Florida to New Jersey
Comparison | Florida | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Florida Florida State University University of Central Florida | Rutgers University Princeton University New Jersey Institute of Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pine View School Osprey; A.D. Henderson University School Boca Raton; Somerset Academy Miramar | Princeton Charter School Princeton; Littlebrook Elementary School Princeton; Riverside Elementary School Princeton |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Archimedean Middle Conservatory Miami; Somerset Academy Middle Miramar; Doral Academy Charter Middle School Doral | Thomas Grover Middle School West Windsor; Community Middle School Plainsboro; Millburn Middle School Millburn |
Top 3 High Schools | Pine View School Osprey; Stanton College Preparatory School Jacksonville; School for Advanced Studies Miami | High Technology High School Lincroft; Bergen County Academies Hackensack; The Academy for Mathematics Science and Engineering Rockaway |
Top 3 private high schools | Bolles School Jacksonville; American Heritage School Plantation; Berkeley Preparatory School Tampa | The Pingry School Basking Ridge; Newark Academy Livingston; The Lawrenceville School Lawrenceville |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Ransom Everglades School Coconut Grove; Pine Crest School Fort Lauderdale; American Heritage School Plantation | Newark Academy Livingston; The Pingry School Basking Ridge; The Lawrenceville School Lawrenceville |
Top 3 School Districts | St. Johns County School District; Sarasota County Schools; Okaloosa County School District | Princeton Public Schools; Millburn Township Schools; West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District |
How Much Do Florida to New Jersey Movers Cost?
Moving 1,097 miles from Florida to New Jersey will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Veteran Moving Group
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,551 | 300 ft3 | $5.17 |
1 Bedroom | $2,307 | 450 ft3 | $5.13 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,813 | 750 ft3 | $5.08 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,546 | 1100 ft3 | $5.04 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,999 | 1600 ft3 | $5.00 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,922 | 1800 ft3 | $4.96 |
Top Florida to New Jersey Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Florida to New Jersey movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sebastian Moving and More
Best moving company overall for Florida to New Jersey