Mississippi to New Jersey Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 1,108 mile interstate move from Mississippi to New Jersey? This moving guide will help you compare living in Mississippi vs New Jersey across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs milder summers), food & health (like Catfish vs Taylor Ham/Pork Roll), real estate & housing (colonial revival vs victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Jersey), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Catfish and Barbecue ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Taylor Ham/Pork Roll & Italian Hot Dogs
- New Jersey housing costs are 187% more expensive than they are in Mississippi
- Rent in New Jersey is 79.07% more expensive than in Mississippi
- Moving from Mississippi to New Jersey will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Mississippi to New Jersey movers is Big G Movers, INC
Mississippi to New Jersey Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Mississippi to New Jersey
- High humidity
- Limited job opportunities
- Fewer cultural events
- Low public transportation
- Few higher education options
- Milder summers
- Diverse job market
- Vibrant arts scene
- Extensive public transit
- Top-tier universities
- Higher living expenses
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Less traditional food
- Dense urban areas
- Limited space
- Lower cost of living
- Slower pace of life
- Southern cuisine
- Friendly small towns
- Spacious lands
Pros of moving from Mississippi to New Jersey
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to milder summers
- Look forward to moving away from limited job opportunities and moving to New Jersey with a diverse job market
- Swap the fewer cultural events of Mississippi for a vibrant arts scene in New Jersey
- Get ready for extensive public transit in New Jersey
Cons of moving from Mississippi to New Jersey
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Mississippi to live with higher living expenses in New Jersey
- You'll lose out on the pro of a slower pace of life and have to settle with the con of a fast-paced lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to southern cuisine and get used to less traditional food in New Jersey
- Swap friendly small towns for dense urban areas
Mississippi vs. New Jersey: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Mississippi | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Catfish | Taylor Ham/Pork Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue ribs | Italian Hot Dogs |
Most popular street food item | Po'boy | Boardwalk Fries |
Most popular vegan food | Okra stew | Jersey Fresh Tomato Salad |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 Mississippi to New Jersey, you will be trading the iconic Catfish of Mississippi for the equally delicious Taylor Ham/Pork Roll of New Jersey. And while the locals in Mississippi rave about their flavorful Barbecue Ribs and sumptuous Po'boy, New Jersey residents know they have tasty Italian Hot Dogs and Boardwalk Fries to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Stew they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jersey Fresh Tomato Salad of New Jersey. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Mississippi eateries like The Mayflower CafΓ©, The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint, and City Grocery. After the boxes are unpacked in New Jersey, don't wait too long before making your way to New Jersey's acclaimed eateries like Hoagie Haven, Rat's Restaurant, and Doughnut Plant.
When comparing lifestyles, New Jersey shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Mississippi. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Jersey compared to what you are used to in Mississippi. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Jersey.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Mississippi and New Jersey
Comparison | Mississippi | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial Revival | Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, quiet neighborhoods | Proximity to public transit, modern amenities |
- The Colonial Revival architecture that Mississippi is known for will be replaced with the Victorian architecture typical of New Jersey.
- Compared to Mississippi's real estate listings, which commonly reference large yards and quiet neighborhoods, New Jersey real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to public transit and modern amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Jersey is more walkable than Mississippi.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Jersey is more bike-friendly than Mississippi.
- New Jersey has more of an urban feel than Mississippi.
- New Jersey housing costs are 187% more expensive than they are in Mississippi, with a median home price of $512,908 compared to Mississippiβs $178,490.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Jersey have increased by 50% compared to a 31% increase in Mississippi.
- Rent in New Jersey is 79.07% more expensive than in Mississippi.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Mississippi and New Jersey
Comparison | Mississippi | 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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Generally Good | Varies, urban areas may have poorer quality |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91/72 | 85/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 55/34 | 40/25 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 59 | 47 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 23 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Mississippi to New Jersey. New Jersey gets 5% fewer sunshine days than Mississippi.
- New Jersey has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Mississippi.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Mississippi, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in New Jersey.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in New Jersey is 6 degrees colder than in Mississippi.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees colder than they are in Mississippi.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Jersey. New Jersey receives 12 fewer inches of rain compared to Mississippi.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Mississippi and New Jersey
Comparison | Mississippi | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $52,719 | $96,346 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.1 | 129.7 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 10.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 2.13% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 6.625% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Energy | Finance, Pharmaceuticals, Information Technology |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Higher | Lower |
Homelessness | Manageable | Challenging |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Jersey tend to earn about 83% more than those in Mississippi
- The COLI in New Jersey is 41% higher than what you are used to living in Mississippi
- The state income tax in NJ is 10.75% compared to 5% in MS
- The affluence in New Jersey is high compared to moderate affluence in Mississippi
- The poverty level is lower in New Jersey compared to higher poverty level in Mississippi
- In terms of homelessness, it is manageable in Mississippi and challenging in New Jersey
Political and Religious Climate in Mississippi vs. New Jersey
Comparison | Mississippi | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative Majority | Liberal Majority |
Local Politics | Focus on Agriculture & Manufacturing | Emphasis on Finance & Healthcare |
Religion | Highly Religious, Predominantly Christian | Diverse Religious Landscape |
- Mississippi tends to lean conservative majority in its political climate
- New Jersey, on the other hand, is often described as liberal majority
- New Jersey's religious environment can be described as diverse religious landscape
- Mississippi's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Mississippi to New Jersey
Comparison | Mississippi | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi | Rutgers University Princeton University The College of New Jersey |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mannsdale Upper Elementary (Madison) Eastside Elementary (Clinton) Oak Park Elementary (Ocean Springs) | Littlebrook Elementary (Princeton) Wandell School (Saddle River) Millburn Elementary (Millburn) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Madison Middle (Madison) Northwest Rankin Middle (Flowood) Ocean Springs Middle (Ocean Springs) | Princeton Charter (Princeton) Tenakill Middle School (Closter) Grover Middle School (West Windsor) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Ocean Springs High (Ocean Springs) Madison Central (Madison) Clinton High (Clinton) | High Technology High (Lincroft) Bergen County Academies (Hackensack) Princeton High (Princeton) |
Top 3 private high schools | Jackson Preparatory (Flowood) St. Andrew's Episcopal (Ridgeland) Presbyterian Christian School (Hattiesburg) | The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Delbarton School (Morristown) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | St. Andrew's Episcopal (Ridgeland) Jackson Academy (Jackson) The Piney Woods School (Piney Woods) | The Pennington School (Pennington) Newark Academy (Livingston) Dwight-Englewood School (Englewood) |
Top 3 School Districts | Madison County Schools Clinton Public School District Ocean Springs School District | Millburn Township Schools Princeton Public Schools West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District |
How Much Do Mississippi to New Jersey Movers Cost?
Moving 1,108 miles from Mississippi 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: 3-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Express Haulers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,831 | 300 ft3 | $6.10 |
1 Bedroom | $2,723 | 450 ft3 | $6.05 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,502 | 750 ft3 | $6.00 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,547 | 1100 ft3 | $5.95 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,443 | 1600 ft3 | $5.90 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,534 | 1800 ft3 | $5.85 |
Top Mississippi to New Jersey Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Mississippi to New Jersey movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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