Wisconsin to New Jersey Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 982 mile interstate move from Wisconsin to New Jersey? This moving guide will help you compare living in Wisconsin vs New Jersey across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Cheese curds vs Taylor Ham (Pork Roll)), real estate & housing (craftsman, 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 Cheese curds and Bratwurst, but get your taste buds ready for Taylor Ham (Pork Roll) & Italian Hot Dogs
- New Jersey housing costs are 74% more expensive than they are in Wisconsin
- Rent in New Jersey is 96.08% more expensive than in Wisconsin
- Moving from Wisconsin to New Jersey will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Wisconsin to New Jersey movers is Elite Movers
Wisconsin to New Jersey Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Wisconsin to New Jersey
- Harsh winters
- Limited cultural events
- Less diverse food
- Fewer job opportunities
- Milder climate
- Vibrant arts scene
- Culinary diversity
- Robust job market
- Urban sprawl
- Higher expenses
- High crowd density
- Limited rural areas
- Lush greenery
- Low cost of living
- Friendly communities
- Natural escapes
Pros of moving from Wisconsin to New Jersey
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited cultural events and moving to New Jersey with a vibrant arts scene
- Swap the less diverse food of Wisconsin for culinary diversity in New Jersey
- Get ready for a robust job market in New Jersey
Cons of moving from Wisconsin to New Jersey
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from lush greenery in Wisconsin to live with urban sprawl in New Jersey
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low cost of living and have to settle with the con of higher expenses
- Time to bid farewell to friendly communities and get used to high crowd density in New Jersey
- Swap natural escapes for limited rural areas
Wisconsin vs. New Jersey: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Wisconsin | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Cheese curds | Taylor Ham (Pork Roll) |
Most popular meat dish | Bratwurst | Italian Hot Dogs |
Most popular street food item | Fried cheese curds | Saltwater Taffy |
Most popular vegan food | Roasted corn | Vegan pizza |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Wisconsin to New Jersey, you will be trading the iconic cheese curds of Wisconsin for the equally delicious Taylor Ham (Pork Roll) of New Jersey. And while the locals in Wisconsin rave about their flavorful bratwurst and sumptuous fried cheese curds, New Jersey residents know they have tasty Italian hot dogs and saltwater taffy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the roasted corn 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 Wisconsin eateries like The Old Fashioned, Mader's, and Culver's. 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, White House Sub Shop, and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.
When comparing lifestyles, New Jersey shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Wisconsin. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in New Jersey compared to what you are used to in Wisconsin. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in New Jersey.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Wisconsin and New Jersey
Comparison | Wisconsin | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Colonial | Colonial, Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lake Access, Large Yards | Proximity to NYC, Updated Kitchens |
- The Craftsman and Colonial architecture that Wisconsin is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Victorian architecture typical of New Jersey.
- Compared to Wisconsin's real estate listings that commonly reference lake access and large yards, New Jersey real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to NYC and updated kitchens.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New Jersey is more walkable than Wisconsin.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New Jersey is more bike-friendly than Wisconsin.
- New Jersey has more of an urban feel than Wisconsin.
- New Jersey housing costs are 74% more expensive than they are in Wisconsin, with a median home price of $512,908 compared to Wisconsinβs $294,909.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Jersey have increased by 50% compared to a 47% increase in Wisconsin.
- Rent in New Jersey is 96.08% more expensive than in Wisconsin.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Wisconsin and New Jersey
Comparison | Wisconsin | 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 | Snowstorms, Tornadoes | Hurricanes, Nor'easters |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 60Β°F | 85Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 28Β°F / 13Β°F | 40Β°F / 25Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 34" | 47" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 48" | 23" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Wisconsin to New Jersey. New Jersey gets 8% more sunshine days than Wisconsin.
- New Jersey has lower humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Wisconsin.
- Say goodbye to possible snowstorms and tornadoes in Wisconsin, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and nor'easters in New Jersey.
- The average summer high temperature in New Jersey is 3 degrees warmer than in Wisconsin.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees warmer than they are in Wisconsin.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New Jersey. New Jersey receives 13 more inches of rain compared to Wisconsin.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Wisconsin and New Jersey
Comparison | Wisconsin | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $70,996 | $96,346 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.65 | 129.7 |
State Income Tax | 4.65% | 6.37% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.68% | 2.49% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.44% | 6.60% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare | Finance, Healthcare, Transportation |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Minimal | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Jersey tend to earn about 36% more than those in Wisconsin
- The COLI in New Jersey will be 36% higher than what you are used to living in Wisconsin
- The state income tax in NJ is 6.37% compared to 4.65% in WI
- The affluence in New Jersey is high compared to moderate affluence in Wisconsin
- The poverty level is moderate in New Jersey compared to low in Wisconsin
- In terms of homelessness, it is minimal in Wisconsin and noticeable in New Jersey
Political and Religious Climate in Wisconsin vs. New Jersey
Comparison | Wisconsin | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Battleground State | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Mixed, with both conservative and liberal areas | Largely liberal, especially in urban areas |
Religion | Christianity predominant, diverse religious communities | Christianity predominant, significant Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu communities |
- Wisconsin tends to lean battleground State 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 Christianity with significant Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu communities
- Wisconsin's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Wisconsin to New Jersey
Comparison | Wisconsin | New Jersey |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Marquette University | Rutgers University-New Brunswick Princeton University The College of New Jersey |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Swanson Elementary (Brookfield) Shorewood Hills Elementary (Shorewood Hills) Elm Lawn Elementary (Middleton) | Littlebrook Elementary School (Princeton) Millburn Elementary (Millburn) Hoboken Charter School (Hoboken) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Whitefish Bay Middle (Whitefish Bay) Pilgrim Park Middle School (Elm Grove) Lake Shore Middle (Mequon) | Princeton Charter School (Princeton) Thomas R. Grover Middle School (West Windsor) William Annin Middle School (Basking Ridge) |
Top 3 High Schools | Brookfield East High (Brookfield) Whitefish Bay High (Whitefish Bay) Cedarburg High (Cedarburg) | High Technology High School (Lincroft) Bergen County Academies (Hackensack) Princeton High School (Princeton) |
Top 3 private high schools | University School of Milwaukee (Milwaukee) Wayland Academy (Beaver Dam) Marquette University High School (Milwaukee) | Delbarton School (Morristown) The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) Newark Academy (Livingston) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | St. John's Northwestern Academies (Delafield) University Lake School (Hartland) The Prairie School (Racine) | The Pingry School (Basking Ridge) Dwight-Englewood School (Englewood) Moorestown Friends School (Moorestown) |
Top 3 School Districts | Elmbrook School District Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Whitefish Bay School District | Princeton Public Schools Millburn Township Schools Summit Public Schools |
How Much Do Wisconsin to New Jersey Movers Cost?
Moving 982 miles from Wisconsin to New Jersey 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 | $2,616 | 450 ft3 | $5.81 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,323 | 750 ft3 | $5.76 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,285 | 1100 ft3 | $5.71 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,062 | 1600 ft3 | $5.66 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,105 | 1800 ft3 | $5.61 |
Top Wisconsin to New Jersey Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Wisconsin to New Jersey movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.