Tennessee to New Jersey Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 878 mile interstate move from Tennessee to New Jersey? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs New Jersey across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot summers vs mild summer climate), food & health (like BBQ Ribs vs Tomato Pie), real estate & housing (traditional, colonial vs colonial, victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Jersey), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Ribs and Hot Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Tomato Pie & Taylor Ham, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich
- New Jersey housing costs are 62% more expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in New Jersey is 45.83% more expensive than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to New Jersey will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Tennessee to New Jersey movers is Big G Movers, INC
Tennessee to New Jersey Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to New Jersey
- Hot summers
- Limited public transit
- Rural areas
- Fewer cultural events
- Mild summer climate
- Comprehensive public transit
- Proximity to cities
- Rich cultural scene
- Higher cost of living
- Compact living spaces
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Heavy congestion
- Low cost of living
- Spacious living
- Southern hospitality
- Moderate traffic
Pros of moving from Tennessee to New Jersey
- Say goodbye to hot summers and hello to a mild summer climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transit and moving to New Jersey with comprehensive public transit
- Swap the rural areas of Tennessee for proximity to cities in New Jersey
- Get ready for a rich cultural scene in New Jersey
Cons of moving from Tennessee to New Jersey
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in Tennessee to live with a higher cost of living in New Jersey
- You'll lose out on the pro of spacious living and have to settle for the con of compact living spaces
- Time to bid farewell to southern hospitality and get used to a fast-paced lifestyle in New Jersey
- Swap moderate traffic for heavy congestion
Tennessee vs. New Jersey: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Ribs | Tomato Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Chicken | Taylor Ham, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Nachos | Pork Roll Sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Tofu | 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 Tennessee to New Jersey, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Ribs of Tennessee for the equally delicious Tomato Pie of New Jersey. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Hot Chicken and sumptuous BBQ Nachos, New Jersey residents know they have tasty Taylor Ham, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich and Pork Roll Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Tofu they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Pizza of New Jersey. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Tennessee eateries like The Loveless Cafe, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, and Rendezvous. After the boxes are unpacked in New Jersey, don't wait too long before making your way to New Jersey's acclaimed eateries like Rat's Restaurant, Hoagie Haven, and White Manna.
When comparing lifestyles, New Jersey shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Jersey compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Jersey.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and New Jersey
Comparison | Tennessee | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Traditional, Colonial | Colonial, Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, garages | Proximity to public transportation, updated kitchens |
- The Traditional and Colonial architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Victorian architecture typical of New Jersey.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and garages, New Jersey real estate listings often highlight features such as proximity to public transportation and updated kitchens.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Jersey is more walkable than Tennessee.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Jersey is more bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- New Jersey has more of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- New Jersey housing costs are 62% more expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $512,908 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Jersey have increased by 50% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in New Jersey is 45.83% more expensive than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and New Jersey
Comparison | Tennessee | 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 | Tornadoes, Floods | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate to Poor |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/68 | 85/66 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 40/25 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 54 | 47 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 23 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Tennessee to New Jersey. New Jersey gets 0% fewer sunshine days than Tennessee.
- New Jersey has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Tennessee.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Tennessee, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in New Jersey.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in New Jersey is 4 degrees colder than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 5 degrees colder than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in New Jersey. New Jersey receives 7 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and New Jersey
Comparison | Tennessee | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $96,346 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 129.7 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 5.525% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.74% | 2.21% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.55% | 6.625% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail | Finance, Healthcare, Retail |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Jersey tend to earn about 48% more than those in Tennessee
- The COLI in New Jersey will be 46% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to NJ, you'll now have a state income tax of 5.525%
- The affluence in New Jersey is high compared to moderate in Tennessee
- The poverty level is low in New Jersey compared to moderate in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Tennessee and moderate in New Jersey
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. New Jersey
Comparison | Tennessee | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative, leans Republican | Liberal, leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Local governance varies, with strong Republican support in rural areas | Diverse, with Democratic strength in urban areas and mixed in suburbs |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Evangelical Protestant | Diverse, with a mix of Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant communities |
- Tennessee tends to lean conservative and leans Republican in its political climate
- New Jersey, on the other hand, is often described as liberal and leans Democratic
- New Jersey's religious environment can be described as diverse with a mix of Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant communities
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Evangelical Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to New Jersey
Comparison | Tennessee | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | Rutgers University Princeton University The College of New Jersey |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lipscomb Elementary - Brentwood Lakeland Elementary School - Lakeland Scales Elementary School - Brentwood | Littlebrook Elementary School - Princeton Princeton Charter School - Princeton Waldorf School of Princeton - Princeton |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Brentwood Middle School - Brentwood Robertsville Middle School - Oak Ridge Signal Mountain Middle/High School - Signal Mountain | Thomas Grover Middle School - West Windsor Community Middle School - Plainsboro Princeton Charter School - Princeton |
Top 3 High Schools | Central Magnet School - Murfreesboro Hume-Fogg Academic High School - Nashville Brentwood High School - Brentwood | High Technology High School - Lincroft Bergen County Academies - Hackensack Princeton High School - Princeton |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School - Chattanooga Montgomery Bell Academy - Nashville Harpeth Hall School - Nashville | The Lawrenceville School - Lawrenceville The Pingry School - Basking Ridge Newark Academy - Livingston |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Webb School - Bell Buckle University School of Nashville - Nashville St. George's Independent School - Collierville | The Lawrenceville School - Lawrenceville The Pingry School - Basking Ridge Dwight-Englewood School - Englewood |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Oak Ridge School District | Princeton Public Schools Millburn Township Schools West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District |
How Much Do Tennessee to New Jersey Movers Cost?
Moving 878 miles from Tennessee to New Jersey will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Express Haulers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,700 | 300 ft3 | $5.67 |
1 Bedroom | $2,528 | 450 ft3 | $5.62 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,176 | 750 ft3 | $5.57 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,069 | 1100 ft3 | $5.52 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,748 | 1600 ft3 | $5.47 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,751 | 1800 ft3 | $5.42 |
Top Tennessee to New Jersey Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to New Jersey movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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