New York to New Jersey Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 283 mile interstate move from New York to New Jersey? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs New Jersey across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Bagel with Lox vs Taylor Ham/Pork Roll), real estate & housing (pre-war, modern high-rise vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Bagel with Lox and Pastrami Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Taylor Ham/Pork Roll & Italian Hot Dog
- New Jersey housing costs are 11% more expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in New Jersey is 1.89% more affordable than in New York
- Moving from New York to New Jersey will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended New York to New Jersey movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to New Jersey Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to New Jersey
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Noisy environment
- Lack of space
- Limited parking
- Lower cost of living
- Less traffic
- Quieter neighborhoods
- More spacious living options
- Abundant parking
- Fewer iconic attractions
- Less public transportation
- Less cultural diversity
- Quieter nightlife
- Fewer international cuisines
- Iconic landmarks
- Ubiquitous public transit
- Culture and diversity
- Nightlife and entertainment
- Food variety
Pros of moving from New York to New Jersey
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to New Jersey with less traffic
- Swap the noisy environment of New York for quieter neighborhoods in New Jersey
- Get ready for more spacious living options in New Jersey
Cons of moving from New York to New Jersey
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from iconic landmarks in New York to live with fewer iconic attractions in New Jersey
- You'll lose out on the pro of ubiquitous public transit and have to settle for the con of less public transportation
- Time to bid farewell to culture and diversity and get used to less cultural diversity in New Jersey
- Swap nightlife and entertainment for quieter nightlife
New York vs. New Jersey: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bagel with Lox | Taylor Ham/Pork Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Pastrami Sandwich | Italian Hot Dog |
Most popular street food item | Pretzel | Salt Water Taffy |
Most popular vegan food | Seitan Pastrami | Vegan Sloppy Joe |
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 York to New Jersey, you will be trading the iconic Bagel with Lox of New York for the equally delicious Taylor Ham/Pork Roll of New Jersey. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful Pastrami Sandwich and sumptuous Pretzel, New Jersey residents know they have tasty Italian Hot Dog and Salt Water Taffy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan Pastrami they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Sloppy Joe of New Jersey. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. After the boxes are unpacked in New Jersey, don't wait too long before making your way to New Jersey's acclaimed eateries like Battello, The Melting Pot, and Don's Burgers.
When comparing lifestyles, New Jersey shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in New Jersey compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in New Jersey.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and New Jersey
Comparison | New York | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Pre-war, Modern High-rise | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Doorman, Rooftop Access | Yard, Garage |
- The Pre-war and Modern High-rise architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of New Jersey.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference doorman services and rooftop access, New Jersey real estate listings often highlight features like yards and garages.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; New Jersey is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; New Jersey is less bike-friendly than New York.
- New Jersey has less of an urban feel than New York.
- New Jersey housing costs are 11% more expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $512,908 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Jersey have increased by 50% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in New Jersey is 1.89% more affordable than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and New Jersey
Comparison | New York | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
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, snowstorms | Hurricanes, flooding |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 66Β°F | 87Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 38Β°F / 26Β°F | 40Β°F / 24Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50 | 47 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25 | 23 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from New York to New Jersey. New Jersey gets 8% fewer sunshine days than New York.
- New Jersey has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and snowstorms in New York, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and flooding in New Jersey.
- The average summer high temperature in New Jersey is 2 degrees warmer than in New York.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees colder than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Jersey. New Jersey receives 3 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and New Jersey
Comparison | New York | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $96,346 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 129.7 |
State Income Tax | 4% to 8.82% | 1.4% to 10.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.68% | 2.21% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.52% | 6.63% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Media, Tourism | Pharmaceuticals, Finance, Technology |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Jersey tend to earn about 21% more than those in New York
- The COLI in New Jersey is 26% higher than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in NJ is 1.4% to 10.75% compared to 4% to 8.82% in NY
- The affluence in New Jersey is moderate compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is low in New Jersey compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in New York and low in New Jersey
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. New Jersey
Comparison | New York | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Democratic-leaning |
Local Politics | Progressive urban centers | Suburban with urban influences |
Religion | Diverse religious affiliations | Predominantly Christian with diversity |
- New York tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- New Jersey, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic
- New Jersey's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian with diversity
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse religious affiliations
Education Guide When Moving from New York to New Jersey
Comparison | New York | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | New York University Columbia University Cornell University | Princeton University Rutgers University-New Brunswick Stevens Institute of Technology |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Success Academy Charter School (Bronx) Baccalaureate School for Global Education (Queens) PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York) | Littlebrook Elementary School (Princeton) Community Park School (Princeton) Riverside Elementary School (Princeton) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Baccalaureate School for Global Education (Queens) Icahn Charter School 7 (Bronx) New York City Lab Middle School for Collaborative Studies (New York) | Princeton Charter School (Princeton) Thomas Grover Middle School (West Windsor) Community Middle School (Plainsboro) |
Top 3 High Schools | Stuyvesant High School (New York) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Brooklyn Technical High School (Brooklyn) | High Technology High School (Lincroft) Bergen County Academies (Hackensack) Academy for Information Technology (Scotch Plains) |
Top 3 private high schools | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Trinity School (New York) Collegiate School (New York) | The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Newark Academy (Livingston) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Collegiate School (New York) Trinity School (New York) Horace Mann School (Bronx) | Moorestown Friends School (Moorestown) The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Princeton Day School (Princeton) |
Top 3 School Districts | Jericho Union Free School District Scarsdale Union Free School District Great Neck Public Schools | Princeton Public Schools Millburn Township School District West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District |
How Much Do New York to New Jersey Movers Cost?
Moving 283 miles from New York to New Jersey 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 York to New Jersey Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to New Jersey movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.