New Jersey to Minnesota Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 1,380 mile interstate move from New Jersey to Minnesota? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Jersey vs Minnesota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Pork Roll/Taylor Ham vs Hotdish), real estate & housing (victorian, colonial vs prairie style, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Jersey), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Roll/Taylor Ham and Italian Hot Dogs, but get your taste buds ready for Hotdish & Wild Rice Burger
- Minnesota housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in New Jersey
- Rent in Minnesota is 32.03% more affordable than in New Jersey
- Moving from New Jersey to Minnesota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended New Jersey to Minnesota movers is Big G Movers, INC
New Jersey to Minnesota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Jersey to Minnesota
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic
- Dense population
- Property taxes
- Limited open spaces
- Affordable housing
- Less congestion
- Spacious neighborhoods
- Lower taxes
- Abundant parks
- Far from major cities
- Harsh winters
- Limited dining diversity
- Limited public transportation
- Fewer beach areas
- Close to NYC
- Mild winters
- Diverse dining options
- Established public transit
- Coastal attractions
Pros of moving from New Jersey to Minnesota
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to Minnesota with less congestion
- Swap the dense population of New Jersey for spacious neighborhoods in Minnesota
- Get ready for lower taxes in Minnesota
Cons of moving from New Jersey to Minnesota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from close to NYC in New Jersey to live far from major cities in Minnesota
- You'll lose out on the pro of mild winters and have to settle for the con of harsh winters
- Time to bid farewell to diverse dining options and get used to limited dining diversity in Minnesota
- Swap established public transit for limited public transportation
New Jersey vs. Minnesota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Jersey | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Roll/Taylor Ham | Hotdish |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Hot Dogs | Wild Rice Burger |
Most popular street food item | Salt Water Taffy | Juicy Lucy |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetable Samosa | Grain Bowl |
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 Minnesota, you will be trading the iconic Pork Roll/Taylor Ham of New Jersey for the equally delicious Hotdish of Minnesota. And while the locals in New Jersey rave about their flavorful Italian Hot Dogs and sumptuous Salt Water Taffy, Minnesota residents know they have tasty Wild Rice Burger and Juicy Lucy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetable Samosa they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Grain Bowl of Minnesota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Jersey eateries like Don's Original, The Plum Tomato, and Bigelow's. After the boxes are unpacked in Minnesota, don't wait too long before making your way to Minnesota's acclaimed eateries like Matt's Bar, The Bachelor Farmer, and Spoon and Stable.
When comparing lifestyles, Minnesota shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Jersey. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Minnesota compared to what you are used to in New Jersey. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Minnesota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Jersey and Minnesota
Comparison | New Jersey | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian, Colonial | Prairie Style, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Close to NYC, Granite Countertops | Near Lakes, Open Floor Plans |
- The Victorian and Colonial architecture that New Jersey is known for will be replaced with the Prairie Style and Craftsman architecture typical of Minnesota.
- Compared to New Jersey's real estate listings, which commonly reference proximity to NYC and granite countertops, Minnesota real estate listings often highlight features like being near lakes and having open floor plans.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Minnesota is more walkable than New Jersey.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Minnesota is more bike-friendly than New Jersey.
- Minnesota has less of an urban feel than New Jersey.
- Minnesota housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in New Jersey, with a median home price of $331,117 compared to New Jerseyβs $512,908.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Minnesota have increased by 33% compared to a 50% increase in New Jersey.
- Rent in Minnesota is 32.03% more affordable than in New Jersey.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Jersey and Minnesota
Comparison | New Jersey | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/65 | 83/63 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40/25 | 24/7 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47" | 30" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 23" | 55" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Jersey to Minnesota. Minnesota gets 4% fewer sunshine days than New Jersey.
- Minnesota has higher humidity and a similar 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 blizzards and tornadoes in Minnesota.
- The average summer high temperature in Minnesota is 2 degrees colder than in New Jersey.
- The average winter lows are 18 degrees colder than they are in New Jersey.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Minnesota. Minnesota receives 17 fewer inches of rain compared to New Jersey.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Jersey and Minnesota
Comparison | New Jersey | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $96,346 | $82,338 |
Cost of Living Index | 129.7 | 98.75 |
State Income Tax | 5.53% | 6.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.13% | 1.10% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.63% | 7.49% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Pharmaceuticals, Manufacturing | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | Prosperous | Comfortable |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Concerning | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Minnesota tend to earn about 15% less than those in New Jersey
- The COLI in Minnesota is 24% lower than what you are used to living in New Jersey
- The state income tax in MN is 6.75% compared to 5.53% in NJ
- The affluence in Minnesota is comfortable compared to prosperous in New Jersey
- The poverty level is low in Minnesota compared to moderate in New Jersey
- In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in New Jersey and manageable in Minnesota
Political and Religious Climate in New Jersey vs. Minnesota
Comparison | New Jersey | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Swing state, slight Democratic lean |
Local Politics | Strong local governance with significant urban influence | Marked by a mix of urban and rural political influences |
Religion | Catholic, Jewish, Protestant | Lutheran, Catholic, Non-affiliated |
- New Jersey tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Minnesota, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state with a slight Democratic lean
- Minnesota's religious environment can be described as Lutheran, Catholic, and Non-affiliated
- New Jersey's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from New Jersey to Minnesota
Comparison | New Jersey | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Rutgers University Princeton University Montclair State University | University of Minnesota Minnesota State University University of St. Thomas |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Littlebrook Elementary School (Princeton) Princeton Charter School (Princeton) Moss Elementary School (Metuchen) | Deephaven Elementary (Minnetonka) St. Croix Preparatory Academy Lower (Stillwater) Scenic Heights Elementary (Minnetonka) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Community Middle School (Plainsboro) Thomas R. Grover Middle School (West Windsor) William Annin Middle School (Basking Ridge) | Minnetonka Middle School East (Minnetonka) Wayzata East Middle School (Plymouth) St. Croix Preparatory Academy Middle (Stillwater) |
Top 3 High Schools | High Technology High School (Lincroft) Bergen County Academies (Hackensack) Biotechnology High School (Freehold) | Minnetonka High School (Minnetonka) Edina High School (Edina) Mounds View High School (Arden Hills) |
Top 3 private high schools | Delbarton School (Morristown) The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Blair Academy (Blairstown) | Breck School (Golden Valley) The Blake School (Minneapolis) St. Paul Academy (St. Paul) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Newark Academy (Livingston) Dwight-Englewood School (Englewood) | Breck School (Golden Valley) The Blake School (Minneapolis) Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) |
Top 3 School Districts | Princeton Public Schools Millburn Township Schools West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District | Wayzata Public Schools Minnetonka Public School District Eden Prairie Schools |
How Much Do New Jersey to Minnesota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,380 miles from New Jersey to Minnesota will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Metro Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,985 | 300 ft3 | $6.62 |
1 Bedroom | $2,955 | 450 ft3 | $6.57 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,887 | 750 ft3 | $6.52 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,113 | 1100 ft3 | $6.47 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,266 | 1600 ft3 | $6.42 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,459 | 1800 ft3 | $6.37 |
Top New Jersey to Minnesota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Jersey to Minnesota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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