New Jersey to DC Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 194 mile interstate move from New Jersey to DC? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Jersey vs DC across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high property taxes vs lower property taxes), food & health (like Taylor Ham/Pork Roll vs Half-Smoke), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs victorian, federal), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Taylor Ham/Pork Roll and Italian Hot Dogs, but get your taste buds ready for Half-Smoke & Mumbo Sauce Wings
- DC housing costs are 21% more expensive than they are in New Jersey
- Rent in DC is 2.12% more affordable than in New Jersey
- Moving from New Jersey to DC will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended New Jersey to DC movers is Bookstore Movers
New Jersey to DC Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Jersey to DC
- High property taxes
- Limited public transportation
- Fewer cultural amenities
- Higher car dependency
- Traffic congestion
- Lower property taxes
- Extensive transit system
- Rich cultural scene
- Walkable neighborhoods
- Efficient city-planning
- Limited beach access
- High living costs
- Urban hustle and bustle
- Hot, humid summers
- Expensive housing market
- Close to beaches
- Family-oriented suburbs
- Access to rural retreats
- Distinct seasons
- Lower cost of living
Pros of moving from New Jersey to DC
- Say goodbye to high property taxes and hello to lower property taxes
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transportation and moving to DC with an extensive transit system
- Swap the fewer cultural amenities of New Jersey for a rich cultural scene in DC
- Get ready for walkable neighborhoods in DC
Cons of moving from New Jersey to DC
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from being close to beaches in New Jersey to live with limited beach access in DC
- You'll lose out on the pro of family-oriented suburbs and have to settle for the con of high living costs
- Time to bid farewell to access to rural retreats and get used to the urban hustle and bustle in DC
- Swap distinct seasons for hot, humid summers
New Jersey vs. DC: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Jersey | DC |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Taylor Ham/Pork Roll | Half-Smoke |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Hot Dogs | Mumbo Sauce Wings |
Most popular street food item | Salt Water Taffy | Jumbo Slice Pizza |
Most popular vegan food | Impossible Burger | Chickpea Salad Sandwich |
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 New Jersey to DC, you will be trading the iconic Taylor Ham/Pork Roll of New Jersey for the equally delicious Half-Smoke of DC. And while the locals in New Jersey rave about their flavorful Italian Hot Dogs and sumptuous Salt Water Taffy, DC residents know they have tasty Mumbo Sauce Wings and Jumbo Slice Pizza to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Impossible Burger they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Chickpea Salad Sandwich of DC. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Jersey eateries like Carlo's Bakery, Razza Pizza Artigianale, and Don's Original. After the boxes are unpacked in DC, don't wait too long before making your way to DC's acclaimed eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Rose's Luxury, and Zaytinya.
When comparing lifestyles, DC shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Jersey. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in DC compared to what you are used to in New Jersey. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in DC.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Jersey and DC
Comparison | New Jersey | DC |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Victorian, Federal |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to NYC, backyards | Proximity to metro, rooftop decks |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that New Jersey is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Federal architecture typical of DC.
- Compared to New Jersey's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to NYC and backyards, DC real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to the metro and rooftop decks.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. DC is more walkable than New Jersey.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. DC is more bike-friendly than New Jersey.
- DC has more of an urban feel than New Jersey.
- DC housing costs are 21% more expensive than they are in New Jersey, with a median home price of $619,320 compared to New Jerseyβs $512,908.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in DC have increased by 8% compared to a 50% increase in New Jersey.
- Rent in DC is 2.12% more affordable than in New Jersey.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Jersey and DC
Comparison | New Jersey | DC |
---|---|---|
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, Nor'easters | Hurricanes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/66 | 89/71 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40/25 | 47/29 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47 | 39.7 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 23 | 15.4 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Jersey to DC. DC gets 1% fewer sunshine days than New Jersey.
- DC has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New Jersey.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and nor'easters in New Jersey, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and flooding in DC.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in DC is 4 degrees warmer than in New Jersey.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees warmer than they are in New Jersey.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in DC. DC receives 7.3 fewer inches of rain compared to New Jersey.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Jersey and DC
Comparison | New Jersey | DC |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $96,346 | $101,027 |
Cost of Living Index | 129.7 | 140.1 |
State Income Tax | 5.53% | 8.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.49% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.63% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Pharmaceuticals, Finance, Manufacturing | Government, Education, Technology |
Affluence | Prosperous | Affluent |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Average | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in DC tend to earn about 5% more than in New Jersey
- The COLI in DC is 8% higher than what you are used to living in New Jersey
- The state income tax in DC is 8.95% compared to 5.53% in NJ
- The affluence in DC is affluent compared to prosperous in New Jersey
- The poverty level is low in DC compared to moderate in New Jersey
- In terms of homelessness, it is average in New Jersey and high in DC
Political and Religious Climate in New Jersey vs. DC
Comparison | New Jersey | DC |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democrat | Strongly Democrat |
Local Politics | Moderate influence of local issues on state politics | High influence of local and national issues |
Religion | Diverse, with significant Catholic and Protestant communities | Diverse, prominent presence of non-religious individuals |
- New Jersey tends to lean Democrat in its political climate
- DC, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democrat
- DC's religious environment can be described as diverse with a prominent presence of non-religious individuals
- New Jersey's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with significant Catholic and Protestant communities
Education Guide When Moving from New Jersey to DC
Comparison | New Jersey | DC |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Rutgers University Princeton University Montclair State University | Georgetown University George Washington University American University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Washington Elementary School Ridgewood; Littlebrook Elementary School Princeton; Central Avenue School Madison | BASIS DC Capitol Hill Cluster School Janney Elementary School |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Glen Rock Middle School Glen Rock; Tenakill Middle School Closter; Mendham Township Middle School Mendham | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School McKinley Middle School |
Top 3 High Schools | High Technology High School Lincroft; Bergen County Academies Hackensack; Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School Jersey City | Benjamin Banneker Academic High School School Without Walls High School McKinley Technology High School |
Top 3 private high schools | The Pingry School Basking Ridge; Newark Academy Livingston; Delbarton School Morristown | Sidwell Friends School St. Albans School Maret School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Pingry School Basking Ridge; Newark Academy Livingston; The Lawrenceville School Lawrenceville | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School National Cathedral School |
Top 3 School Districts | Princeton Public Schools Millburn Township Schools Summit Public Schools | DC Public Schools (For quality ratings it's challenging to compare as DC operates under a single school district model) |
How Much Do New Jersey to DC Movers Cost?
Moving 194 miles from New Jersey to DC will typically cost between $1,500 and $4,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $1,500 - $4,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-6.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Express Haulers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,116 | 300 ft3 | $3.72 |
1 Bedroom | $1,654 | 450 ft3 | $3.68 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,725 | 750 ft3 | $3.63 |
3 Bedrooms | $3,950 | 1100 ft3 | $3.59 |
4 Bedrooms | $5,678 | 1600 ft3 | $3.55 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,311 | 1800 ft3 | $3.51 |
Top New Jersey to DC Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Jersey to DC movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.