New Jersey to Hawaii Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a interstate move from New Jersey to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Jersey vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs year-round warm weather), food & health (like Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) vs Poke), real estate & housing (colonial, victorian vs plantation, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) and Italian Sub, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Kalua Pig
- Hawaii housing costs are 67% more expensive than they are in New Jersey
- Rent in Hawaii is 19.62% more expensive than in New Jersey
- Our top recommended New Jersey to Hawaii movers is Big G Movers, INC
New Jersey to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Jersey to Hawaii
- Harsh winters
- High property taxes
- Dense population
- Industrial regions
- Limited ocean views
- Year-round warm weather
- No state income tax
- Spacious island living
- Pristine beaches
- Vast ocean vistas
- Isolated location
- Higher cost of living
- Tropical climate
- Fewer museums
- Limited public transport
- Access to NYC
- Rich cultural diversity
- Four distinct seasons
- Thriving arts scene
- Convenient travel corridors
Pros of moving from New Jersey to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to year-round warm weather
- Look forward to moving away from high property taxes and moving to Hawaii with no state income tax
- Swap the dense population of New Jersey for spacious island living in Hawaii
- Get ready for pristine beaches in Hawaii
Cons of moving from New Jersey to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from access to NYC in New Jersey to live with an isolated location in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich cultural diversity and have to settle for the con of a higher cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to four distinct seasons and get used to a tropical climate in Hawaii
- Swap a thriving arts scene for fewer museums
New Jersey vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Jersey | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Sub | Kalua Pig |
Most popular street food item | Saltwater Taffy | Shave Ice |
Most popular vegan food | Impossible Burger | AΓ§aΓ Bowl |
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 New Jersey to Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) of New Jersey for the equally delicious Poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in New Jersey rave about their flavorful Italian Sub and sumptuous Saltwater Taffy, Hawaii residents know they have tasty Kalua Pig and Shave Ice 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 AΓ§aΓ Bowl of Hawaii. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Jersey eateries like Carlo's Bakery, The Frog and The Peach, and Dock's Oyster House. After the boxes are unpacked in Hawaii, don't wait too long before making your way to Hawaii's acclaimed eateries like Leonard's Bakery, Helena's Hawaiian Food, and Alan Wong's Honolulu.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Jersey. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Hawaii compared to what you are used to in New Jersey. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Jersey and Hawaii
Comparison | New Jersey | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Victorian | Plantation, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to NYC, spacious backyards | Ocean views, sustainable living options |
- The Colonial and Victorian architecture that New Jersey is known for will be replaced with the Plantation and Modern architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to New Jersey's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to NYC and spacious backyards, Hawaii real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and sustainable living options.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Hawaii is more walkable than New Jersey.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Hawaii is more bike-friendly than New Jersey.
- Hawaii has more of an urban feel than New Jersey.
- Hawaii housing costs are 67% more expensive than they are in New Jersey, with a median home price of $858,106 compared to New Jerseyβs $512,908.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 50% increase in New Jersey.
- Rent in Hawaii is 19.62% more expensive than in New Jersey.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Jersey and Hawaii
Comparison | New Jersey | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
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 | Volcanoes, Tsunamis |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 66Β°F | 88Β°F / 75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 25Β°F | 80Β°F / 63Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47 | 63 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 23 | 0 (except for mountain tops) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from New Jersey to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 32% more sunshine days than New Jersey.
- Hawaii has higher 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 volcanoes and tsunamis in Hawaii.
- The average summer high temperature in Hawaii is 3 degrees warmer than in New Jersey.
- The average winter lows in Hawaii are 38 degrees warmer than they are in New Jersey.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 16 more inches of rain compared to New Jersey.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Jersey and Hawaii
Comparison | New Jersey | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $96,346 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 129.7 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 10.75% | 11% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.42% | 0.28% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.63% | 4.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals | Tourism, Military, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | High |
Homelessness | Moderate | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 4% less than in New Jersey
- The COLI in Hawaii will be 28% higher than what you are used to living in New Jersey
- The state income tax in HI is 11% compared to 10.75% in NJ
- The affluence in Hawaii is moderate compared to high in New Jersey
- The poverty level is high in Hawaii compared to low in New Jersey
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in New Jersey and high in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in New Jersey vs. Hawaii
Comparison | New Jersey | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Strongly Democratic |
Local Politics | State Government | <a href="https://portal.ehawaii.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">State Government</a> |
Religion | Diverse: Catholic, Jewish, Muslim | Diverse: Christian, Buddhist, Shinto |
- New Jersey tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as diverse: Christian, Buddhist, and Shinto
- New Jersey's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse: Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim
Education Guide When Moving from New Jersey to Hawaii
Comparison | New Jersey | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Rutgers University Princeton University Montclair State University | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Littlebrook Elementary School (Princeton) Town Center Elementary School at Plainsboro (Plainsboro) Moss School (Metuchen) | Manoa Elementary School (Honolulu) Aina Haina Elementary School (Honolulu) Noelani Elementary School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Thomas Grover Middle School (West Windsor) Community Middle School (Plainsboro) Tenakill Middle School (Closter) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 High Schools | High Technology High School (Lincroft) Bergen County Academies (Hackensack) Biotechnology High School (Freehold) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) President Theodore Roosevelt High School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Blair Academy (Blairstown) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Newark Academy (Livingston) The Wardlaw+Hartridge School (Edison) Morristown-Beard School (Morristown) | Hawaii Preparatory Academy (Kamuela) Island School (Lihue) Maui Preparatory Academy (Lahaina) |
Top 3 School Districts | Millburn Township School District Princeton Public Schools Summit Public Schools | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) Kamehameha Schools (Private statewide) Punahou School (Private Honolulu) |
Top New Jersey to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Jersey to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.