Washington to New Jersey Moving Guide
Updated June 24, 2025

Planning a 2,801 mile interstate move from Washington to New Jersey? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs New Jersey across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like overcast skies vs sunlit beaches), food & health (like Salmon vs Taylor Ham/Pork Roll), real estate & housing (modern and craftsman vs colonial and victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New Jersey), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Salmon and Grilled Salmon, but get your taste buds ready for Taylor Ham/Pork Roll & Italian Hot Dog
- New Jersey housing costs are 13% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in New Jersey is 24.34% more expensive than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to New Jersey will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,000
- Our top recommended Washington to New Jersey movers is Seattle Moves & More
Washington to New Jersey Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to New Jersey
- Overcast skies
- Expensive housing
- High traffic congestion
- Isolated locations
- Constant rain
- Sunlit beaches
- Affordable living
- Efficient transit options
- Rich cultural scene
- Four distinct seasons
- Higher cost of living
- Limited green spaces
- Lack of coffee diversity
- Harsh winters
- More conservative areas
- Vibrant tech scene
- Scenic wilderness
- Strong local coffee culture
- Mild weather
- Progressive politics
Pros of moving from Washington to New Jersey
- Say goodbye to overcast skies and hello to sunlit beaches
- Look forward to moving away from expensive housing and moving to New Jersey with affordable living
- Swap the high traffic congestion of Washington for efficient transit options in New Jersey
- Get ready for a rich cultural scene in New Jersey
Cons of moving from Washington to New Jersey
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a vibrant tech scene in Washington to live with a higher cost of living in New Jersey
- You'll lose out on the pro of scenic wilderness and have to settle for the con of limited green spaces
- Time to bid farewell to a strong local coffee culture and get used to a lack of coffee diversity in New Jersey
- Swap mild weather for harsh winters
Washington vs. New Jersey: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Taylor Ham/Pork Roll |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled Salmon | Italian Hot Dog |
Most popular street food item | Seattle Dog | Salt Water Taffy |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | 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 Washington to New Jersey, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Taylor Ham/Pork Roll of New Jersey. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Grilled Salmon and sumptuous Seattle Dog, 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 Quinoa Salad 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 Washington eateries like Canlis, Matt's Rotisserie and Oyster Lounge, and The Herbfarm. After the boxes are unpacked in New Jersey, don't wait too long before making your way to New Jersey's acclaimed eateries like Carlo's Bakery, Don's Original, and The Madison Bar and Grill.
When comparing lifestyles, New Jersey shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in New Jersey compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in New Jersey.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and New Jersey
Comparison | Washington | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern and Craftsman | Colonial and Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Green spaces, Tech hubs | Close to NYC, Beach proximity |
- The Modern and Craftsman architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Victorian architecture typical of New Jersey.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference green spaces and tech hubs, New Jersey real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to NYC and the beach.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Jersey is more walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. New Jersey is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- New Jersey has more of an urban feel than Washington.
- New Jersey housing costs are 13% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $512,908 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Jersey have increased by 50% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in New Jersey is 24.34% more expensive than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and New Jersey
Comparison | Washington | 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 | Earthquakes, Volcanoes | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F/55Β°F | 85Β°F/66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F/36Β°F | 40Β°F/25Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 47 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 23 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to New Jersey. New Jersey gets 36% more sunshine days than Washington.
- New Jersey has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in New Jersey.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in New Jersey is 10 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows are 11 degrees colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New Jersey. New Jersey receives 9 more inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and New Jersey
Comparison | Washington | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $96,346 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 129.7 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 1.4% to 10.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.08% | 2.21% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5% to 10.4% | 6.625% |
Top 3 Industries | Tech, Aerospace, Agriculture | Finance, Pharmaceuticals, Transportation |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Less noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Jersey tend to earn about 6% more than in Washington
- The COLI in New Jersey will be 25% higher than what you are used to living in Washington
- Bummer... By moving from WA to NJ, you'll now have a state income tax of 1.4% to 10.75%
- The affluence in New Jersey is high compared to moderate in Washington
- The poverty level is moderate in New Jersey compared to low in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Washington and less noticeable in New Jersey
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. New Jersey
Comparison | Washington | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic |
Local Politics | Progressive Urban Centers | Diverse with progressive urban areas |
Religion | Mixed, with a notable number of non-religious individuals | Predominantly Christian, with diverse religious communities |
- Washington tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- New Jersey, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- New Jersey's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian, with diverse religious communities
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with a notable number of non-religious individuals
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to New Jersey
Comparison | Washington | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University | Princeton University Rutgers University-New Brunswick The College of New Jersey |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade Ridge Elementary - Issaquah Medina Elementary - Medina Skyline Elementary - Sammamish | Littlebrook Elementary School - Princeton Princeton Charter School - Princeton Riverside Elementary School - Princeton |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School - Bellevue Odle Middle School - Bellevue Environmental & Adventure School - Kirkland | Thomas Grover Middle School - West Windsor Community Middle School - Plainsboro William Annin Middle School - Basking Ridge |
Top 3 High Schools | International School - Bellevue Newport High School - Bellevue Tesla STEM High School - Redmond | High Technology High School - Lincroft Bergen County Academies - Hackensack Princeton High School - Princeton |
Top 3 private high schools | Lakeside School - Seattle The Overlake School - Redmond Seattle Academy - Seattle | The Lawrenceville School - Lawrenceville The Pingry School - Basking Ridge Delbarton School - Morristown |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Eastside Preparatory School - Kirkland The Bear Creek School - Redmond Seattle Country Day School - Seattle | The Pennington School - Pennington Morristown-Beard School - Morristown Newark Academy - Livingston |
Top 3 School Districts | Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District Lake Washington School District | Princeton Public Schools Millburn Township Schools Summit Public Schools |
How Much Do Washington to New Jersey Movers Cost?
Moving 2,801 miles from Washington to New Jersey will typically cost between $4,000 and $10,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $10,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,790 | 300 ft3 | $9.30 |
1 Bedroom | $4,163 | 450 ft3 | $9.25 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,901 | 750 ft3 | $9.20 |
3 Bedrooms | $10,067 | 1100 ft3 | $9.15 |
4 Bedrooms | $14,562 | 1600 ft3 | $9.10 |
5+ Bedrooms | $16,293 | 1800 ft3 | $9.05 |
Top Washington to New Jersey Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to New Jersey movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Washington to New Jersey