New Jersey to Wisconsin Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 981 mile interstate move from New Jersey to Wisconsin? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Jersey vs Wisconsin across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower living expenses), food & health (like Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) vs Cheese Curds), real estate & housing (colonial, victorian vs craftsman, ranch), 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 Dog, but get your taste buds ready for Cheese Curds & Bratwurst
- Wisconsin housing costs are 43% less expensive than they are in New Jersey
- Rent in Wisconsin is 49.00% more affordable than in New Jersey
- Moving from New Jersey to Wisconsin will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended New Jersey to Wisconsin movers is Elite Movers
New Jersey to Wisconsin Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Jersey to Wisconsin
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic congestion
- Dense urban environment
- Frequent storms
- Lower living expenses
- Smoother commutes
- More nature access
- Better weather stability
- Limited dining options
- Fewer cultural activities
- Far from major cities
- Limited transit options
- Diverse cuisine
- Rich cultural scene
- Proximity to NYC
- Excellent public transport
Pros of moving from New Jersey to Wisconsin
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower living expenses
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic congestion and moving to Wisconsin with smoother commutes
- Swap the dense urban environment of New Jersey for more nature access in Wisconsin
- Get ready for better weather stability in Wisconsin
Cons of moving from New Jersey to Wisconsin
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the diverse cuisine in New Jersey to live with limited dining options in Wisconsin
- You'll lose out on the pro of a rich cultural scene and have to settle with the con of fewer cultural activities
- Time to bid farewell to proximity to NYC and get used to being far from major cities in Wisconsin
- Swap excellent public transport for limited transit options
New Jersey vs. Wisconsin: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Jersey | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) | Cheese Curds |
Most popular meat dish | Italian Hot Dog | Bratwurst |
Most popular street food item | Salt Water Taffy | Fried Cheese Curds |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetable Samosa | Beer-battered Portobello Mushrooms |
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 Wisconsin, you will be trading the iconic Pork Roll (Taylor Ham) of New Jersey for the equally delicious Cheese Curds of Wisconsin. And while the locals in New Jersey rave about their flavorful Italian Hot Dog and sumptuous Salt Water Taffy, Wisconsin residents know they have tasty Bratwurst and Fried Cheese Curds 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 Beer-battered Portobello Mushrooms of Wisconsin. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Jersey eateries like White House Sub Shop, Don's Deli, and Arturo's Osteria and Pizzeria. After the boxes are unpacked in Wisconsin, don't wait too long before making your way to Wisconsin's acclaimed eateries like Mader's, Clyde's Feed, and The Old Fashioned.
When comparing lifestyles, Wisconsin shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Jersey. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Wisconsin compared to what you are used to in New Jersey. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Wisconsin.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Jersey and Wisconsin
Comparison | New Jersey | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Victorian | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to NYC, Great schools | Lake access, Quiet neighborhoods |
- The Colonial and Victorian architecture that New Jersey is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Wisconsin.
- Compared to New Jersey's real estate listings, which commonly reference proximity to NYC and great schools, Wisconsin real estate listings often highlight features like lake access and quiet neighborhoods.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Wisconsin is less walkable than New Jersey.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Wisconsin is more bike-friendly than New Jersey.
- Wisconsin has less of an urban feel than New Jersey.
- Wisconsin housing costs are 43% less expensive than they are in New Jersey, with a median home price of $294,909 compared to New Jerseyβs $512,908.
- Over the prior five years, home prices in Wisconsin have increased by 47% compared to a 50% increase in New Jersey.
- Rent in Wisconsin is 49.00% more affordable than in New Jersey.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Jersey and Wisconsin
Comparison | New Jersey | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
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, flooding | Snowstorms, flooding |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/66 | 82/62 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40/25 | 28/13 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47 | 32 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 23 | 48 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New Jersey to Wisconsin. Wisconsin gets 9% fewer sunshine days than New Jersey.
- Wisconsin has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to New Jersey.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and flooding in New Jersey, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and flooding in Wisconsin.
- The average summer high temperature in Wisconsin is 3 degrees colder than in New Jersey.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees colder than they are in New Jersey.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Wisconsin. Wisconsin receives 15 fewer inches of rain compared to New Jersey.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Jersey and Wisconsin
Comparison | New Jersey | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $96,346 | $70,996 |
Cost of Living Index | 129.7 | 95.65 |
State Income Tax | 3% - 11.8% | 3.54% - 7.65% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.21% | 1.63% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.63% | 5.44% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Pharmaceuticals, Technology | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Wisconsin tend to earn about 26% less than in New Jersey
- The COLI in Wisconsin is 26% lower than what you are used to living in New Jersey
- The state income tax in WI is 3.54% - 7.65% compared to 3% - 11.8% in NJ
- The affluence in Wisconsin is moderate compared to high in New Jersey
- The poverty level is low in Wisconsin compared to moderate in New Jersey
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in New Jersey and low in Wisconsin
Political and Religious Climate in New Jersey vs. Wisconsin
Comparison | New Jersey | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Swing State |
Local Politics | Liberal urban centers with conservative rural areas | Mixture of progressive cities and conservative rural communities |
Religion | Catholic majority, with a diverse religious landscape | Lutheran and Catholic majorities, with Protestant diversity |
- New Jersey tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Wisconsin, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state
- Wisconsin's religious environment can be described as Lutheran and Catholic majorities with Protestant diversity
- New Jersey's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Catholic majority with a diverse religious landscape
Education Guide When Moving from New Jersey to Wisconsin
Comparison | New Jersey | Wisconsin |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Rutgers University Princeton University New Jersey Institute of Technology | University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Marquette University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Littlebrook Elementary School (Princeton) Riverside Elementary School (Princeton) Hoboken Charter School (Hoboken) | Randall Elementary School (Madison) Shorewood Hills Elementary School (Shorewood) Lake View Elementary School (Madison) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Princeton Charter School (Princeton) Thomas Grover Middle School (West Windsor) Millburn Middle School (Millburn) | Longfellow Middle School (Wauwatosa) Whitefish Bay Middle School (Whitefish Bay) Pilgrim Park Middle School (Elm Grove) |
Top 3 High School Schools | High Technology High School (Lincroft) Bergen County Academies (Hackensack) Princeton High School (Princeton) | Whitefish Bay High School (Whitefish Bay) Madison West High School (Madison) Brookfield East High School (Brookfield) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Newark Academy (Livingston) | University School of Milwaukee (Milwaukee) Madison Country Day School (Waunakee) Brookfield Academy (Brookfield) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Newark Academy (Livingston) | University School of Milwaukee (Milwaukee) Madison Country Day School (Waunakee) Brookfield Academy (Brookfield) |
Top 3 School Districts | Princeton Public Schools Millburn Township Schools Summit Public Schools | Whitefish Bay School District Elmbrook School District Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District |
How Much Do New Jersey to Wisconsin Movers Cost?
Moving 981 miles from New Jersey to Wisconsin will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Above Average Moving LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,759 | 300 ft3 | $5.86 |
1 Bedroom | $2,615 | 450 ft3 | $5.81 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,322 | 750 ft3 | $5.76 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,283 | 1100 ft3 | $5.71 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,059 | 1600 ft3 | $5.66 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,102 | 1800 ft3 | $5.61 |
Top New Jersey to Wisconsin Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Jersey to Wisconsin movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.