North Dakota to New Jersey Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 1,684 mile interstate move from North Dakota to New Jersey? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Dakota vs New Jersey across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Lefse vs Taylor Ham/Pork Roll), real estate & housing (ranch vs colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Jersey), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lefse and Hotdish, but get your taste buds ready for Taylor Ham/Pork Roll & Italian Hot Dogs
- New Jersey housing costs are 102% more expensive than they are in North Dakota
- Rent in New Jersey is 140.19% more expensive than in North Dakota
- Moving from North Dakota to New Jersey will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended North Dakota to New Jersey movers is Big G Movers, INC
North Dakota to New Jersey Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Dakota to New Jersey
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Fewer entertainment options
- Remote location
- Milder climate
- Diverse job opportunities
- Vibrant nightlife
- Proximity to cities
- Higher expenses
- Traffic congestion
- Limited green areas
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Lower cost of living
- Less traffic
- Wide open spaces
- Close-knit communities
Pros of moving from North Dakota to New Jersey
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to New Jersey with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the fewer entertainment options of North Dakota for a vibrant nightlife in New Jersey
- Get ready for proximity to cities in New Jersey
Cons of moving from North Dakota to New Jersey
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in North Dakota to live with higher expenses in New Jersey
- You'll lose out on the pro of less traffic and have to settle with the con of traffic congestion
- Time to bid farewell to wide open spaces and get used to limited green areas in New Jersey
- Swap close-knit communities for a fast-paced lifestyle
North Dakota vs. New Jersey: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Dakota | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lefse | Taylor Ham/Pork Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Hotdish | Italian Hot Dogs |
Most popular street food item | Knoephla Soup | Salt Water Taffy |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Burgers | Vegetable Paninis |
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 North Dakota to New Jersey, you will be trading the iconic Lefse of North Dakota for the equally delicious Taylor Ham/Pork Roll of New Jersey. And while the locals in North Dakota rave about their flavorful Hotdish and sumptuous Knoephla Soup, New Jersey residents know they have tasty Italian Hot Dogs and Salt Water Taffy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Burgers they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegetable Paninis of New Jersey. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Dakota eateries like Kroll's Diner, The Pitchfork Steak Fondue, and Sickies Garage Burgers and Brews. 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 North Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Jersey compared to what you are used to in North Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Jersey.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Dakota and New Jersey
Comparison | North Dakota | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Quiet neighborhoods | Proximity to public transportation, Hardwood floors |
- The Ranch architecture that North Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Colonial architecture typical of New Jersey.
- Compared to North Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, New Jersey real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to public transportation and hardwood floors.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Jersey is more walkable than North Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Jersey is more bike-friendly than North Dakota.
- New Jersey has more of an urban feel than North Dakota.
- New Jersey housing costs are 102% more expensive than they are in North Dakota with a median home price of $512,908 compared to North Dakotaβs $253,395.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Jersey have increased by 50% compared to an 18% increase in North Dakota.
- Rent in New Jersey is 140.19% more expensive than in North Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Dakota and New Jersey
Comparison | North Dakota | 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, Blizzards | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 55Β°F | 85Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 24Β°F / 2Β°F | 40Β°F / 25Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 17-20 | 40-50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 48 | 20-30 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from North Dakota to New Jersey. New Jersey gets 2% more sunshine days than North Dakota.
- New Jersey has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and blizzards in North Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in New Jersey.
- The average summer high temperature in New Jersey is 3 degrees warmer than in North Dakota.
- The average winter lows in New Jersey are 23 degrees warmer than they are in North Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New Jersey. New Jersey receives 23 more inches of rain compared to North Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Dakota and New Jersey
Comparison | North Dakota | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,970 | $96,346 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.3 | 129.7 |
State Income Tax | 2.9% | 6.37% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.05% | 2.21% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.85% | 6.625% |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Agriculture, Manufacturing | Finance, Pharmaceuticals, Technology |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Jersey tend to earn about 34% more than those in North Dakota
- The COLI in New Jersey will be 36% higher than what you are used to living in North Dakota
- The state income tax in NJ is 6.37% compared to 2.9% in ND
- The affluence in New Jersey is high compared to moderate in North Dakota
- The poverty level is moderate in New Jersey compared to low in North Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in North Dakota and moderate in New Jersey
Political and Religious Climate in North Dakota vs. New Jersey
Comparison | North Dakota | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican dominance | Democratic leadership |
Religion | Christian (predominantly Lutheran) | Christian (Catholic majority), diverse religious communities |
- North Dakota tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- New Jersey, on the other hand, is often described as liberal
- New Jersey's religious environment can be described as Christian with a Catholic majority and diverse religious communities
- North Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian, predominantly Lutheran
Education Guide When Moving from North Dakota to New Jersey
Comparison | North Dakota | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of North Dakota North Dakota State University Minot State University | Rutgers University Princeton University The College of New Jersey |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Freedman Elementary - Fargo Lincoln Elementary - Bismarck Centennial Elementary - Fargo | Princeton Charter School - Princeton Littlebrook Elementary School - Princeton Mendham Township Elementary School - Mendham |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ben Franklin Middle School - Fargo Horizon Middle School - Bismarck Wachter Middle School - Bismarck | Thomas Grover Middle School - West Windsor Community Middle School - Plainsboro William Annin Middle School - Basking Ridge |
Top 3 High Schools | Central High School - Grand Forks Century High School - Bismarck Red River High School - Grand Forks | High Technology High School - Lincroft Bergen County Academies - Hackensack Princeton High School - Princeton |
Top 3 private high schools | Shanley High School - Fargo Oak Grove Lutheran School - Fargo Minot Ryan High School - Minot | The Lawrenceville School - Lawrenceville The Pingry School - Basking Ridge Delbarton School - Morristown |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Oak Grove Lutheran School - Fargo Shiloh Christian School - Bismarck Dakota Adventist Academy - Bismarck | The Lawrenceville School - Lawrenceville The Pingry School - Basking Ridge The Pennington School - Pennington |
Top 3 School Districts | Fargo Public Schools Bismarck Public Schools Grand Forks Public Schools | Princeton Public Schools Millburn Township Schools Livingston Public Schools |
How Much Do North Dakota to New Jersey Movers Cost?
Moving 1,684 miles from North Dakota to New Jersey will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Express Haulers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,157 | 300 ft3 | $7.19 |
1 Bedroom | $3,213 | 450 ft3 | $7.14 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,318 | 750 ft3 | $7.09 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,745 | 1100 ft3 | $7.04 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,185 | 1600 ft3 | $6.99 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,493 | 1800 ft3 | $6.94 |
Top North Dakota to New Jersey Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Dakota to New Jersey movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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