New Jersey to Ohio Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 556 mile interstate move from New Jersey to Ohio? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Jersey vs Ohio across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high property taxes vs lower property taxes), food & health (like Taylor Ham/Pork Roll vs Buckeye Candy), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs colonial revival, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Jersey), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Taylor Ham/Pork Roll and Italian Hot Dog, but get your taste buds ready for Buckeye Candy & Cincinnati Chili
- Ohio housing costs are 56% less expensive than they are in New Jersey
- Rent in Ohio is 40.95% more affordable than in New Jersey
- Moving from New Jersey to Ohio will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended New Jersey to Ohio movers is Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
New Jersey to Ohio Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Jersey to Ohio
- High property taxes
- Heavy traffic congestion
- Expensive cost of living
- Dense urban areas
- Long commute times
- Lower property taxes
- Less traffic congestion
- Affordable cost of living
- More open spaces
- Shorter commute times
- Fewer job options
- Fewer cultural hubs
- Far from major metro
- Limited restaurant variety
- Less historical sites
- Diverse job market
- Cultural attractions
- Proximity to NYC
- Varied dining options
- Rich history
Pros of moving from New Jersey to Ohio
- Say goodbye to high property taxes and hello to lower property taxes
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic congestion and moving to Ohio with less traffic congestion
- Swap the expensive cost of living in New Jersey for the affordable cost of living in Ohio
- Get ready for more open spaces in Ohio
Cons of moving from New Jersey to Ohio
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the diverse job market in New Jersey to live with fewer job options in Ohio
- You'll lose out on the pro of cultural attractions and have to settle for the con of fewer cultural hubs
- Time to bid farewell to proximity to NYC and get used to being far from a major metro in Ohio
- Swap varied dining options for limited restaurant variety
New Jersey vs. Ohio: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Jersey | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Taylor Ham/Pork Roll | Buckeye Candy |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Hot Dog | Cincinnati Chili |
Most popular street food item | Salt Water Taffy | Polish Boy |
Most popular vegan food | Impossible Burger | Vegan Chili |
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 Ohio, you will be trading the iconic Taylor Ham/Pork Roll of New Jersey for the equally delicious Buckeye Candy of Ohio. And while the locals in New Jersey rave about their flavorful Italian Hot Dog and sumptuous Salt Water Taffy, Ohio residents know they have tasty Cincinnati Chili and Polish Boy 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 Vegan Chili of Ohio. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Jersey eateries like Carlo's Bakery, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, and Razza Pizza Artigianale. After the boxes are unpacked in Ohio, don't wait too long before making your way to Ohio's acclaimed eateries like Schmidtβs Sausage Haus und Restaurant, Skyline Chili, and The Pine Club.
When comparing lifestyles, Ohio shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Jersey. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Ohio compared to what you are used to in New Jersey. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Ohio.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Jersey and Ohio
Comparison | New Jersey | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Colonial Revival, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to NYC, upgraded kitchens | Spacious yards, family-friendly neighborhoods |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that New Jersey is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival and Craftsman architecture typical of Ohio.
- Compared to New Jersey's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to NYC and upgraded kitchens, Ohio real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and family-friendly neighborhoods.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Ohio is less walkable than New Jersey.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Ohio is less bike-friendly than New Jersey.
- Ohio has less of an urban feel than New Jersey.
- Ohio housing costs are 56% less expensive than they are in New Jersey, with a median home price of $223,135 compared to New Jerseyβs $512,908.
- Over the prior five years, home prices in Ohio have increased 49% compared to a 50% increase in New Jersey.
- Rent in Ohio is 40.95% more affordable than in New Jersey.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Jersey and Ohio
Comparison | New Jersey | Ohio |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate to Poor |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/66 | 83/63 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40/25 | 36/22 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47 | 39 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 23 | 28 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Jersey to Ohio. Ohio gets 15% fewer sunshine days than New Jersey.
- Ohio 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 tornadoes and severe storms in Ohio.
- The average summer high temperature in Ohio is 2 degrees colder than in New Jersey.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in New Jersey.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Ohio. Ohio receives 8 fewer inches of rain compared to New Jersey.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Jersey and Ohio
Comparison | New Jersey | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $96,346 | $65,720 |
Cost of Living Index | 129.7 | 92.85 |
State Income Tax | 5.53% | 3.99% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.49% | 1.56% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.60% | 7.17% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Pharmaceuticals, Telecommunications | Manufacturing, Finance, Insurance |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Ohio tend to earn about 32% less than in New Jersey
- The COLI in Ohio is 28% lower than what you are used to living in New Jersey
- The state income tax in OH is 3.99% compared to 5.53% in NJ
- The affluence in Ohio is moderate compared to high in New Jersey
- The poverty level is high in Ohio compared to moderate in New Jersey
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in New Jersey and low in Ohio
Political and Religious Climate in New Jersey vs. Ohio
Comparison | New Jersey | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Swing State |
Local Politics | Progressive urban areas vs. conservative rural | Conservative rural areas with mixed urban politics |
Religion | Catholic, Jewish | Protestant, Catholic |
- New Jersey tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Ohio, on the other hand, is often described as a swing State
- Ohio's religious environment can be described as Protestant and Catholic
- New Jersey's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Catholic and Jewish
Education Guide When Moving from New Jersey to Ohio
Comparison | New Jersey | Ohio |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Rutgers University NJIT The College of New Jersey | The Ohio State University Miami University University of Cincinnati |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pierrepont School (Rutherford) Wandell School (Saddle River) Littlebrook Elementary School (Princeton) | Indian Hill Elementary (Cincinnati) Granville Elementary (Granville) Hilltop Elementary School (Beachwood) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Princeton Charter School (Princeton) Community Middle School (Plainsboro) Thomas Grover Middle School (West Windsor) | Bay Middle School (Bay Village) Mason Middle School (Mason) Canfield Village Middle School (Canfield) |
Top 3 High Schools | High Technology High School (Lincroft) Bergen County Academies (Hackensack) Princeton High School (Princeton) | Walnut Hills High School (Cincinnati) Bexley High School (Bexley) Solon High School (Solon) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Newark Academy (Livingston) | Hawken School (Gates Mills) The Seven Hills School (Cincinnati) University School (Hunting Valley) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Princeton Day School (Princeton) The Pennington School (Pennington) Morristown-Beard School (Morristown) | Gilmour Academy (Gates Mills) Columbus Academy (Gahanna) Western Reserve Academy (Hudson) |
Top 3 School Districts | Princeton Public Schools Millburn Township School District Summit Public Schools | Indian Hill Exempted Village School District Ottawa Hills Local School District Solon City School District |
How Much Do New Jersey to Ohio Movers Cost?
Moving 556 miles from New Jersey to Ohio will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,518 | 300 ft3 | $5.06 |
1 Bedroom | $2,254 | 450 ft3 | $5.01 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,719 | 750 ft3 | $4.96 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,400 | 1100 ft3 | $4.91 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,774 | 1600 ft3 | $4.86 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,656 | 1800 ft3 | $4.81 |
Top New Jersey to Ohio Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Jersey to Ohio movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Perrysburg Moving and Hauling LLC
Best moving company overall for New Jersey to Ohio