Kentucky to New Jersey Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 680 mile interstate move from Kentucky to New Jersey? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs New Jersey across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job market vs diverse job opportunities), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs Taylor Ham/Pork Roll), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs victorian, colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Jersey), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Chicken and Burgoo, but get your taste buds ready for Taylor Ham/Pork Roll & Italian Hot Dog
- New Jersey housing costs are 155% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
- Rent in New Jersey is 87.26% more expensive than in Kentucky
- Moving from Kentucky to New Jersey will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Kentucky to New Jersey movers is Big G Movers, INC
Top Kentucky to New Jersey Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to New Jersey movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Big G Movers, INC
Best moving company overall for Kentucky to New Jersey

Cimply Labor, LLC

From Here to There
Kentucky to New Jersey Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to New Jersey
- Limited job market
- Fewer entertainment options
- Hot, humid summers
- Diverse job opportunities
- Vibrant nightlife
- Mild ocean breeze
- Higher living expenses
- Heavy traffic
- Urban sprawl
- Lower cost of living
- Less traffic congestion
- Natural landscapes
Pros of moving from Kentucky to New Jersey
- Say goodbye to the limited job market and hello to diverse job opportunities
- Look forward to moving away from fewer entertainment options and moving to New Jersey with vibrant nightlife
- Swap the hot, humid summers of Kentucky for a mild ocean breeze in New Jersey
Cons of moving from Kentucky to New Jersey
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lower cost of living in Kentucky to live with higher living expenses in New Jersey
- You'll lose out on the pro of less traffic congestion and have to settle with the con of heavy traffic
- Time to bid farewell to natural landscapes and get used to urban sprawl in New Jersey
Kentucky vs. New Jersey: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kentucky | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | Taylor Ham/Pork Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Burgoo | Italian Hot Dog |
Most popular street food item | Hot Brown | Bagels |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Impossible Burger |
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 Kentucky to New Jersey, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious Taylor Ham/Pork Roll of New Jersey. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful Burgoo and sumptuous Hot Brown, New Jersey residents know they have tasty Italian Hot Dog and Bagels to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit 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 Kentucky eateries like The Lady and Sons, Holly Hill Inn, and Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn. 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 Rutt's Hut.
When comparing lifestyles, New Jersey shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Jersey compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Jersey.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and New Jersey
Comparison | Kentucky | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Victorian, Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, Privacy | Proximity to NYC/Philly, Community amenities |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Colonial architecture typical of New Jersey.
- Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and privacy, New Jersey real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to NYC/Philly and community amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Jersey is more walkable than Kentucky.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Jersey is more bike-friendly than Kentucky.
- New Jersey has more of an urban feel than Kentucky.
- New Jersey housing costs are 155% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $512,908 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Jersey have increased by 50% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
- Rent in New Jersey is 87.26% more expensive than in Kentucky.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and New Jersey
Comparison | Kentucky | 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) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 85Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 43Β°F / 23Β°F | 40Β°F / 25Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 48" | 47" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 11" | 23" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kentucky to New Jersey. New Jersey gets 6% more sunshine days than Kentucky.
- New Jersey has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Kentucky.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Kentucky, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in New Jersey.
- The average summer high temperature in New Jersey is 2 degrees colder than in Kentucky.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees warmer in New Jersey than they are in Kentucky.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Jersey. New Jersey receives 1 fewer inch of rain compared to Kentucky.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and New Jersey
Comparison | Kentucky | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $96,346 |
Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 129.7 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 8.97% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 2.42% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 6.625% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Coal Mining | Finance, Pharmaceuticals, Telecommunications |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Notable | Lower |
Homelessness | Modest | Concerning |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Jersey tend to earn about 62% more than those in Kentucky
- The COLI in New Jersey will be 48% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
- The state income tax in NJ is 8.97% compared to 5% in KY
- The affluence in New Jersey is high compared to moderate affluence in Kentucky
- The poverty level is lower in New Jersey compared to notable poverty in Kentucky
- In terms of homelessness, it is modest in Kentucky and concerning in New Jersey
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. New Jersey
Comparison | Kentucky | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | Local government and community initiatives often reflect state-wide conservative values. | Local government and community efforts, such as those found through NJ.gov, tend to support more liberal policies. |
Religion | Christian majority, with a strong presence of Baptist denominations. | Diverse religious landscape, including Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim communities. |
- Kentucky tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- New Jersey, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Liberal
- New Jersey's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape, including Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim communities
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority, with a strong presence of Baptist denominations
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to New Jersey
Comparison | Kentucky | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University | Rutgers University Princeton University The College of New Jersey |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Athena Elementary (Lexington) Beaumont Elementary (Lexington) Cherrywood Elementary (Louisville) | Princeton Charter School (Princeton) Littlebrook Elementary School (Princeton) Riverside Elementary School (Princeton) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Winburn Middle School (Lexington) Highlands Middle School (Fort Thomas) South Oldham Middle School (Crestwood) | Thomas R. Grover Middle School (Princeton) Community Middle School (Plainsboro) William R. Satz Middle School (Holmdel) |
Top 3 High School Schools | DuPont Manual High School (Louisville) Highlands High School (Fort Thomas) Bowling Green High School (Bowling Green) | High Technology High School (Lincroft) Bergen County Academies (Hackensack) Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School (Jersey City) |
Top 3 private high schools | Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) Lexington Catholic High School (Lexington) St. Xavier High School (Louisville) | Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Newark Academy (Livingston) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Lexington School (Lexington) Kentucky Country Day School (Louisville) Sayre School (Lexington) | The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Newark Academy (Livingston) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools Oldham County Schools | Princeton Public Schools Millburn Township Schools Summit Public Schools |
How Much Do Kentucky to New Jersey Movers Cost?
Moving 680 miles from Kentucky 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: 2.5-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,588 | 300 ft3 | $5.29 |
1 Bedroom | $2,359 | 450 ft3 | $5.24 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,895 | 750 ft3 | $5.19 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,658 | 1100 ft3 | $5.14 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,149 | 1600 ft3 | $5.09 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,078 | 1800 ft3 | $5.04 |