Hawaii to New Jersey Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to New Jersey? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs New Jersey across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs more affordable housing), food & health (like Poke vs Taylor Ham/Pork Roll), real estate & housing (plantation, modern vs colonial, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Poke and Kalua Pork, but get your taste buds ready for Taylor Ham/Pork Roll & Italian Hot Dog
- New Jersey housing costs are 40% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in New Jersey is 16.40% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to New Jersey movers is Big G Movers, INC
Hawaii to New Jersey Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to New Jersey
- High cost of living
- Limited job market
- Remote location
- More affordable housing
- Diverse employment opportunities
- Proximity to major cities
- Less natural beauty
- Cold winters
- More crowded areas
- Stunning scenery
- Warm climate
- Close-knit communities
Pros of moving from Hawaii to New Jersey
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to more affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to New Jersey with diverse employment opportunities
- Swap the remote location of Hawaii for proximity to major cities in New Jersey
Cons of moving from Hawaii to New Jersey
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from stunning scenery in Hawaii to live with less natural beauty in New Jersey
- You'll lose out on the pro of a warm climate and have to settle with the con of cold winters
- Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to more crowded areas in New Jersey
Hawaii vs. New Jersey: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | Taylor Ham/Pork Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Kalua Pork | Italian Hot Dog |
Most popular street food item | Shave Ice | Saltwater Taffy |
Most popular vegan food | Tofu Poke | Vegetarian Sloppy Joe |
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 Hawaii to New Jersey, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Taylor Ham/Pork Roll of New Jersey. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Kalua Pork and sumptuous Shave Ice, New Jersey residents know they have tasty Italian Hot Dog and Saltwater Taffy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tofu Poke they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegetarian Sloppy Joe of New Jersey. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Leonard's Bakery, and Mama's Fish 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, White House Sub Shop, and Carlo's Bakery.
When comparing lifestyles, New Jersey shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in New Jersey, compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in New Jersey.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and New Jersey
Comparison | Hawaii | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern | Colonial, Modern |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Views, Lanais | Proximity to NYC, Backyards |
- The Plantation and Modern architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Modern architecture typical of New Jersey.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference views and lanais, New Jersey real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to NYC and backyards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; New Jersey is less walkable than Hawaii.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; New Jersey is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- New Jersey has more of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- New Jersey housing costs are 40% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $512,908 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior five years, home prices in New Jersey have increased by 50% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in New Jersey is 16.40% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and New Jersey
Comparison | Hawaii | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Vog, Tsunamis, Hurricanes | Blizzards, Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F/70°F | 85°F/66°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78°F/63°F | 40°F/25°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63.7 | 47.1 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0 | 23 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to New Jersey. New Jersey gets 26% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
- New Jersey has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Hawaii.
- Say goodbye to the possible vog, tsunamis, and hurricanes in Hawaii, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards, hurricanes, and floods in New Jersey.
- The average summer high temperature in New Jersey is the same degrees as in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows are 38 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Jersey. New Jersey receives 16.6 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and New Jersey
Comparison | Hawaii | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $96,346 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 129.7 |
State Income Tax | 1.4% - 11% | 1.4% - 10.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.26% | 2.21% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | 6.625% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Military, Agriculture | Pharmaceuticals, Finance, Transportation |
Affluence | Moderate | Affluent |
Poverty | Visible | Less visible |
Homelessness | High | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Jersey tend to earn about 4% more than those in Hawaii
- The COLI in New Jersey will be 22% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in NJ is 1.4% - 10.75% compared to 1.4% - 11% in HI
- The affluence in New Jersey is affluent compared to moderate in Hawaii
- The poverty level is less visible in New Jersey compared to visible in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and moderate in New Jersey
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. New Jersey
Comparison | Hawaii | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic | Liberal/Democratic |
Local Politics | High engagement in environmental issues | Highly active in education and healthcare reforms |
Religion | Mix of Christianity, Buddhism, and Indigenous Practices | Predominantly Christian, with a significant Jewish population |
- Hawaii tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
- New Jersey, on the other hand, is often described as Liberal/Democratic
- New Jersey's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian with a significant Jewish population
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a mix of Christianity, Buddhism, and Indigenous Practices
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to New Jersey
Comparison | Hawaii | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu | Rutgers University-New Brunswick Princeton University Montclair State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Manoa Elementary School (Honolulu) Momilani Elementary School (Pearl City) Noelani Elementary School (Honolulu) | Princeton Charter School (Princeton) Littlebrook Elementary School (Princeton) Millburn Township Schools (Millburn) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) | Thomas R. Grover Middle School (West Windsor) Community Middle School (Plainsboro) William Annin Middle School (Basking Ridge) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) | High Technology High School (Lincroft) Bergen County Academies (Hackensack) Princeton High School (Princeton) |
Top 3 private high schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Hawaii Preparatory Academy (Kamuela) | Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Newark Academy (Livingston) The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls (Honolulu) Hawaii Preparatory Academy (Kamuela) | Newark Academy (Livingston) The Pennington School (Pennington) Princeton Day School (Princeton) |
Top 3 School Districts | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) | Millburn Township Schools Princeton Public Schools Summit Public Schools |
Top Hawaii to New Jersey Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to New Jersey movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.