New Jersey to New York Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 283 mile interstate move from New Jersey to New York? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Jersey vs New York across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high property taxes vs vibrant job market), food & health (like Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) vs Bagels), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs art deco, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) and Italian Hot Dog, but get your taste buds ready for Bagels & Pastrami on Rye
- New York housing costs are 10% less expensive than they are in New Jersey
- Rent in New York is 1.92% more expensive than in New Jersey
- Moving from New Jersey to New York will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended New Jersey to New York movers is JP Urban Moving
New Jersey to New York Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Jersey to New York
- High property taxes
- Limited public transport
- Suburban lifestyle
- Less nightlife options
- Traffic congestion
- Vibrant job market
- Extensive subway systems
- Buzzing urban culture
- 24/7 entertainment
- Walkable neighborhoods
- High cost of living
- Noisy and busy
- Limited green areas
- Farther from coast
- Smaller living spaces
- Less crowded spaces
- Quieter environment
- More green spaces
- Proximity to beaches
- Family-friendly suburbs
Pros of moving from New Jersey to New York
- Say goodbye to high property taxes and hello to a vibrant job market
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transport and moving to New York with extensive subway systems
- Swap the suburban lifestyle of New Jersey for a buzzing urban culture in New York
- Get ready for 24/7 entertainment in New York
Cons of moving from New Jersey to New York
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from less crowded spaces in New Jersey to live with a high cost of living in New York
- You'll lose out on the pro of a quieter environment and have to settle with the con of being noisy and busy
- Time to bid farewell to more green spaces and get used to limited green areas in New York
- Swap proximity to beaches for being farther from the coast
New Jersey vs. New York: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Jersey | New York |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) | Bagels |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Hot Dog | Pastrami on Rye |
Most popular street food item | Salt Water Taffy | Pretzels |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Sloppy Joes | Vegan Pizza |
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 York, you will be trading the iconic Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) of New Jersey for the equally delicious Bagels of New York. And while the locals in New Jersey rave about their flavorful Italian Hot Dog and sumptuous Salt Water Taffy, New York residents know they have tasty Pastrami on Rye and Pretzels to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Sloppy Joes they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Pizza of New York. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Jersey eateries like Carlo's Bakery, Don's Deli, and White House Subs. After the boxes are unpacked in New York, don't wait too long before making your way to New York's acclaimed eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Junior's Cheesecake.
When comparing lifestyles, New York shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Jersey. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New York compared to what you are used to in New Jersey. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New York.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Jersey and New York
Comparison | New Jersey | New York |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Art Deco, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Backyards, Quiet Streets | Rooftop Access, Proximity to Public Transit |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that New Jersey is known for will be replaced with the Art Deco and Modern architecture typical of New York.
- Compared to New Jersey's real estate listings that commonly reference backyards and quiet streets, New York real estate listings often highlight features like rooftop access and proximity to public transit.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New York is more walkable than New Jersey.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New York is more bike-friendly than New Jersey.
- New York has more of an urban feel than New Jersey.
- New York housing costs are 10% less expensive than they are in New Jersey, with a median home price of $460,812 compared to New Jerseyβs $512,908.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New York have increased by 36% compared to a 50% increase in New Jersey.
- Rent in New York is 1.92% more expensive than in New Jersey.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Jersey and New York
Comparison | New Jersey | New York |
---|---|---|
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, Floods | Hurricanes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/66 | 83/68 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40/24 | 38/26 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47 | 49.9 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 23 | 25 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from New Jersey to New York. New York gets 9% more sunshine days than New Jersey.
- New York has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New Jersey.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in New Jersey, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and blizzards in New York.
- The average summer high temperature in New York is 2 degrees colder than in New Jersey.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees warmer than they are in New Jersey.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New York. New York receives 2.9 more inches of rain compared to New Jersey.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Jersey and New York
Comparison | New Jersey | New York |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $96,346 | $79,557 |
Cost of Living Index | 129.7 | 102.8 |
State Income Tax | 8.97 | 8.82 |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.20 | 1.69 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.63 | 8.52 |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Transportation, Pharmaceuticals | Finance, Media, Technology |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New York tend to earn about 17% less than those in New Jersey
- The COLI in New York is 21% lower than what you are used to living in New Jersey
- The state income tax in NY is 8.82 compared to 8.97 in NJ
- The affluence in New York is high compared to moderate affluence in New Jersey
- The poverty level is moderate in New York compared to low in New Jersey
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in New Jersey and high in New York
Political and Religious Climate in New Jersey vs. New York
Comparison | New Jersey | New York |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic |
Local Politics | Varies by municipality | Varies significantly, especially between urban and rural areas |
Religion | Diverse; significant Catholic and Jewish communities | Highly diverse; notable Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant congregations |
- New Jersey tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- New York, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- New York's religious environment can be described as highly diverse, with notable Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant congregations
- New Jersey's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, with significant Catholic and Jewish communities
Education Guide When Moving from New Jersey to New York
Comparison | New Jersey | New York |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Rutgers University Princeton University New Jersey Institute of Technology | New York University Columbia University Cornell University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Moss School Millburn Littlebrook Elementary School Princeton Central School Wall | PS 77 Lower Lab School New York City Success Academy Charter School - Bensonhurst Brooklyn Anderson School New York City |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Princeton Charter School Princeton Millburn Middle School Millburn Mountain View School Mendham | Baccalaureate School for Global Education Long Island City The Spence School New York City Success Academy Charter School - Harlem New York City |
Top 3 High School Schools | High Technology High School Lincroft Biotechnology High School Freehold Millburn High School Millburn | Stuyvesant High School New York City Bronx High School of Science Bronx Brooklyn Technical High School Brooklyn |
Top 3 private high schools | The Lawrenceville School Lawrenceville The Pingry School Basking Ridge Newark Academy Livingston | Trinity School New York City Horace Mann School Bronx Riverdale Country School Bronx |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Pingry School Basking Ridge Morristown-Beard School Morristown Gill St. Bernard's School Gladstone | Collegiate School New York City The Chapin School New York City Brearley School New York City |
Top 3 School Districts | Millburn Township School District Millburn Princeton Public Schools Princeton Summit Public Schools Summit | Great Neck Public Schools Great Neck Scarsdale Union Free School District Scarsdale Jericho Union Free School District Jericho |
How Much Do New Jersey to New York Movers Cost?
Moving 283 miles from New Jersey to New York 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: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,158 | 300 ft3 | $3.86 |
1 Bedroom | $1,719 | 450 ft3 | $3.82 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,832 | 750 ft3 | $3.78 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,108 | 1100 ft3 | $3.73 |
4 Bedrooms | $5,907 | 1600 ft3 | $3.69 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,568 | 1800 ft3 | $3.65 |
Top New Jersey to New York Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Jersey to New York movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.