Iowa to New Jersey Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 1,112 mile interstate move from Iowa to New Jersey? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs New Jersey across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job market vs diverse job opportunities), food & health (like Corn vs Taylor Ham/Pork Roll), real estate & housing (ranch, colonial vs colonial, victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Jersey), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Corn and Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Taylor Ham/Pork Roll & Italian Sub
- New Jersey housing costs are 140% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in New Jersey is 126.88% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to New Jersey will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Iowa to New Jersey movers is Big G Movers, INC
Iowa to New Jersey Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to New Jersey
- Limited job market
- Fewer cultural events
- Rural isolation
- Harsh winters
- Limited public transport
- Diverse job opportunities
- Rich cultural scene
- Access to cities
- Milder winters
- Extensive public transport
- Higher cost of living
- Dense traffic
- Limited natural landscapes
- Less personal networks
- High-paced lifestyle
- Lower cost of living
- Sparse traffic
- Wide open spaces
- Close-knit communities
- Casual lifestyle
Pros of moving from Iowa to New Jersey
- Say goodbye to the limited job market and hello to diverse job opportunities
- Look forward to moving away from fewer cultural events and moving to New Jersey with a rich cultural scene
- Swap the rural isolation of Iowa for access to cities in New Jersey
- Get ready for milder winters in New Jersey
Cons of moving from Iowa to New Jersey
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lower cost of living in Iowa to live with the higher cost of living in New Jersey
- You'll lose out on the pro of sparse traffic and have to settle for the con of dense traffic
- Time to bid farewell to wide open spaces and get used to limited natural landscapes in New Jersey
- Swap close-knit communities for less personal networks
Iowa vs. New Jersey: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Corn | Taylor Ham/Pork Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Italian Sub |
Most popular street food item | Walking Taco | Street Pizza |
Most popular vegan food | Grain Bowls | Seitan Steaks |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Iowa to New Jersey, you will be trading the iconic corn of Iowa for the equally delicious Taylor Ham/Pork Roll of New Jersey. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and sumptuous Walking Taco, New Jersey residents know they have tasty Italian Sub and Street Pizza to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Grain Bowls they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan Steaks of New Jersey. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like The Amana Colonies, The Blackstone, and Zombie Burger + Drink Lab. After the boxes are unpacked in New Jersey, don't wait too long before making your way to New Jersey's acclaimed eateries like Carlo's Bakery, Don's Original, and White House Sub Shop.
When comparing lifestyles, New Jersey shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Jersey, compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Jersey.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and New Jersey
Comparison | Iowa | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Colonial | Colonial, Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Quiet neighborhoods | Proximity to NYC, Great schools |
- The Ranch and Colonial architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Victorian architecture typical of New Jersey.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, New Jersey real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to NYC and great schools.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Jersey is more walkable than Iowa.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Jersey is more bike-friendly than Iowa.
- New Jersey has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- New Jersey housing costs are 140% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $512,908 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Jersey have increased by 50% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in New Jersey is 126.88% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and New Jersey
Comparison | Iowa | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Tornadoes, floods | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/63 | 85/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31/14 | 40/25 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36 | 47 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 36 | 23 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Iowa to New Jersey. New Jersey gets 1% more sunshine days than Iowa.
- New Jersey has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Iowa.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Iowa, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in New Jersey.
- The average summer high temperature in New Jersey is the same as Iowa.
- The average winter lows in New Jersey are 11 degrees warmer than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New Jersey. New Jersey receives 11 more inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and New Jersey
Comparison | Iowa | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $96,346 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 129.7 |
State Income Tax | 8.53% | 10.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.53% | 2.49% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 6.625% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance | Finance, Technology, Pharmaceuticals |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Jersey tend to earn about 38% more than those in Iowa
- The COLI in New Jersey will be 35% higher than what you are used to living in Iowa
- The state income tax in NJ is 10.75% compared to 8.53% in IA
- The affluence in New Jersey is high compared to moderate affluence in Iowa
- The poverty level is low in New Jersey compared to moderate poverty in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and moderate in New Jersey
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. New Jersey
Comparison | Iowa | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leans Republican | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative in rural areas | Liberal in urban areas |
Religion | Christianity predominant | Diverse; high Catholic presence |
- Iowa tends to lean mixed and leans Republican in its political climate
- New Jersey, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- New Jersey's religious environment can be described as diverse with a high Catholic presence
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to New Jersey
Comparison | Iowa | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | Rutgers University Princeton University The College of New Jersey |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Lincoln Elementary (Mount Vernon) Shimek Elementary School (Iowa City) | Littlebrook Elementary School (Princeton) Riverside Elementary School (Princeton) Millburn Elementary School (Millburn) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ames Middle School (Ames) North Central Junior High (North Liberty) Northwest Junior High (Coralville) | Thomas R. Grover Middle School (West Windsor) William Annin Middle School (Basking Ridge) Millburn Middle School (Millburn) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Ames High School (Ames) West High School (Iowa City) Decorah High School (Decorah) | High Technology High School (Lincroft) Bergen County Academies (Hackensack) Princeton High School (Princeton) |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Academy (Exeter) George Washington University Online High School Stanford University Online High School | The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Blair Academy (Blairstown) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Iowa Mennonite School (Kalona) | The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Newark Academy (Livingston) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District West Des Moines Community Schools | Millburn Township Schools Princeton Public Schools Summit Public Schools |
How Much Do Iowa to New Jersey Movers Cost?
Moving 1,112 miles from Iowa to New Jersey will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Express Haulers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,833 | 300 ft3 | $6.11 |
1 Bedroom | $2,727 | 450 ft3 | $6.06 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,507 | 750 ft3 | $6.01 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,556 | 1100 ft3 | $5.96 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,455 | 1600 ft3 | $5.91 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,547 | 1800 ft3 | $5.86 |
Top Iowa to New Jersey Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to New Jersey movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.