New Jersey to New Mexico Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 1,884 mile interstate move from New Jersey to New Mexico? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Jersey vs New Mexico across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high property taxes vs lower housing costs), food & health (like Pork Roll vs Green Chile), real estate & housing (victorian, colonial vs pueblo, territorial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Jersey), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Roll and Taylor Ham, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Green Chile & Carne Adovada
- New Mexico housing costs are 41% less expensive than they are in New Jersey
- Rent in New Mexico is 44.44% more affordable than in New Jersey
- Moving from New Jersey to New Mexico will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,000
- Our top recommended New Jersey to New Mexico movers is Big G Movers, INC
New Jersey to New Mexico Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Jersey to New Mexico
- High property taxes
- Dense population
- Heavy traffic
- Costly utilities
- Lower housing costs
- More open space
- Less congestion
- Affordable energy
- Longer travel distances
- Hot, dry climate
- Fewer cultural events
- Limited job opportunities
- Close to NYC
- Four distinct seasons
- Diverse culture
- Strong job market
Pros of moving from New Jersey to New Mexico
- Say goodbye to high property taxes and hello to lower housing costs
- Look forward to moving away from a dense population and moving to New Mexico with more open space
- Swap the heavy traffic of New Jersey for less congestion in New Mexico
- Get ready for affordable energy in New Mexico
Cons of moving from New Jersey to New Mexico
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from close to NYC in New Jersey to live with longer travel distances in New Mexico
- You'll lose out on the pro of four distinct seasons and have to settle for the con of a hot, dry climate
- Time to bid farewell to a diverse culture and get used to fewer cultural events in New Mexico
- Swap a strong job market for limited job opportunities
New Jersey vs. New Mexico: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Jersey | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Roll | Green Chile |
Most popular meat dish | Taylor Ham, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich | Carne Adovada |
Most popular street food item | Italian Hot Dogs | Breakfast Burritos |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetable Samosas | Blue Corn Tacos |
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 New Mexico, you will be trading the iconic Pork Roll of New Jersey for the equally delicious Green Chile of New Mexico. And while the locals in New Jersey rave about their flavorful Taylor Ham, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich & sumptuous Italian Hot Dogs, New Mexico residents know they have tasty Carne Adovada and Breakfast Burritos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetable Samosas they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Blue Corn Tacos of New Mexico. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Jersey eateries like Don's Original, Razza Pizza Artigianale, and Highlawn Pavilion. After the boxes are unpacked in New Mexico, don't wait too long before making your way to New Mexico's acclaimed eateries like Sadie's of New Mexico, Frontier Restaurant, and El Modelo.
When comparing lifestyles, New Mexico shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Jersey. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Mexico compared to what you are used to in New Jersey. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Mexico.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Jersey and New Mexico
Comparison | New Jersey | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian, Colonial | Pueblo, Territorial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to NYC, great schools | Scenic views, outdoor activities |
- The Victorian and Colonial architecture that New Jersey is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Territorial architecture typical of New Mexico.
- Compared to New Jersey's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to NYC and great schools, New Mexico real estate listings often highlight features like scenic views and outdoor activities.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; New Mexico is less walkable than New Jersey.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; New Mexico is more bike-friendly than New Jersey.
- New Mexico has less of an urban feel than New Jersey.
- New Mexico housing costs are 41% less expensive than they are in New Jersey, with a median home price of $300,227 compared to New Jerseyβs $512,908.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Mexico have increased by 56% compared to a 50% increase in New Jersey.
- Rent in New Mexico is 44.44% more affordable than in New Jersey.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Jersey and New Mexico
Comparison | New Jersey | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
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 | Wildfires, Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 66Β°F | 92Β°F / 64Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 25Β°F | 49Β°F / 23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47 | 14 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 23 | 11 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from New Jersey to New Mexico. New Mexico gets 36% more sunshine days than New Jersey.
- New Mexico 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 wildfires and floods in New Mexico.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in New Mexico is 7 degrees warmer than in New Jersey.
- The average winter lows in New Mexico are 2 degrees colder than they are in New Jersey.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Mexico. New Mexico receives 33 fewer inches of rain compared to New Jersey.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Jersey and New Mexico
Comparison | New Jersey | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $96,346 | $59,726 |
Cost of Living Index | 129.7 | 96.45 |
State Income Tax | 1.4 - 10.75 | 1.7 - 5.9 |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.42 | 0.80 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.60 | 7.83 |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Pharma, Tech | Oil & Gas, Tourism, Aerospace |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | High |
Homelessness | Moderate | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Mexico tend to earn about 38% less than in New Jersey
- The COLI in New Mexico will be 26% lower than what you are used to living in New Jersey
- The state income tax in NM is 1.7 to 5.9 compared to 1.4 to 10.75 in NJ
- The affluence in New Mexico is moderate compared to high in New Jersey
- The poverty level is high in New Mexico compared to low in New Jersey
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in New Jersey and high in New Mexico
Political and Religious Climate in New Jersey vs. New Mexico
Comparison | New Jersey | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic |
Local Politics | Diverse with strong local governance | Community-oriented with significant local involvement |
Religion | Christian, Jewish, Muslim communities | Christian, Native American spiritual practices |
- New Jersey tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- New Mexico, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- New Mexico's religious environment can be described as Christian and Native American spiritual practices
- New Jersey's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities
Education Guide When Moving from New Jersey to New Mexico
Comparison | New Jersey | New Mexico |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Rutgers University Princeton University The College of New Jersey | The University of New Mexico New Mexico State University New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Littlebrook Elementary School (Princeton) Waldorf School of Princeton (Princeton) Princeton Charter School (Princeton) | Double Eagle Elementary School (Albuquerque) Wood Gormley Elementary School (Santa Fe) Georgia O'Keeffe Elementary School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Thomas Grover Middle School (West Windsor) Community Middle School (Plainsboro) Princeton Charter School (Princeton) | Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science (Albuquerque) Sidney Gutierrez Middle School (Roswell) Jefferson Middle School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 High Schools | High Technology High School (Lincroft) Bergen County Academies (Hackensack) Princeton High School (Princeton) | La Cueva High School (Albuquerque) Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science (Albuquerque) Cottonwood Classical Prep (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Newark Academy (Livingston) The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) | Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Preparatory School (Santa Fe) Bosque School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Pennington School (Pennington) Princeton Day School (Princeton) Morristown-Beard School (Morristown) | Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque) Santa Fe Waldorf School (Santa Fe) Menaul School (Albuquerque) |
Top 3 School Districts | Princeton Public Schools West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District Millburn Township Schools | Los Alamos Public Schools Albuquerque Public Schools Rio Rancho Public Schools |
How Much Do New Jersey to New Mexico Movers Cost?
Moving 1,884 miles from New Jersey to New Mexico will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Express Haulers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,271 | 300 ft3 | $7.57 |
1 Bedroom | $3,383 | 450 ft3 | $7.52 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,601 | 750 ft3 | $7.47 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,160 | 1100 ft3 | $7.42 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,790 | 1600 ft3 | $7.37 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,173 | 1800 ft3 | $7.32 |
Top New Jersey to New Mexico Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Jersey to New Mexico movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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