A lot of Americans, at one time or another, have chosen to relocate to a new state — whether it’s to take a new job, be nearer to friends and family, or just to start a new life. Even when moving from one state to another, there can be a certain amount of culture shock and adjustment. So if you’re thinking of moving to New Jersey, here are a few things you might want to know first.
New Jersey is the most populous state.
New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation, containing the top for most densely populated municipalities in the US, and seven out of the top ten. The town of Guttenberg, New Jersey is the fourteenth most densely populated area in the world. What’s more, every county in the state is ranked as urban.
New Jersey is the third wealthiest state in the nation.
There is plenty of money to go around in New Jersey — the median income there is almost $90,000. But with that level of wealth comes a higher cost of living. If you live in someplace like Jersey City or Union City, your cost of living can be 150% of the national average or more.
But it’s not all bad news. The cost of living is still cheaper than neighboring states like New York and Philadelphia, and you can find affordable car insurance in New Jersey. Per Ross Martin at The Zebra, the average car insurance premium is still about $1,400 yearly — only 4% above the national average. Rates in New York State start at $1,600 and go up dramatically from there.
New Jersey is the fourth most diverse state.
One of the great advantages of larger cities is the diversity they tend to attract. New Jersey, in particular, is one of the most diverse states in the nation, ranking fourth overall. This level of diversity makes the state an incredible melting pot of food, culture, and creativity, which enriches the lives of those who live and work there.
New Jersey has full-service gas stations.
If you live almost anywhere else in the nation, you’re no doubt used to pumping your own gas. But when you move to New Jersey, you’ll have one big adjustment to make: you literally cannot pump your own gas. Since 1949, there has been a law against the public fueling their own cars due to safety concerns. All the gas stations in New Jersey are self-service, so you’ll never again have to gas up your car in the rain or snow.
New Jersey has the best schools in the country.
If you have school-age children, you could not pick a better place to live in terms of their education. For the second year in a row now, New Jersey has taken the top spot in the ranking of US public schools. New Jersey has adapted to changes in learning following the pandemic, and students regularly receive some of the highest marks in the United States.
New Jersey has a wealth of natural beauty.
New Jersey has something of a reputation for being ugly, urban, and blighted — but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, New Jersey is ideal for people who love outdoor living, sporting 44 beaches across the state, plus 28 state parks, 11 state forests, and no less than five national wildlife refuges. Only in New Jersey can you see stunning sights like the Palisades, Buttermilk falls in Leyton, or the famous New Jersey Pine Barrens.
New Jersey has over 9,000 farms.
Another fact to counter the misconception of New Jersey? There are thousands of farms all across the state, including several great locations for family outings, offering events like easter egg hunts, corn mazes, pumpkin picking, wagon rides, and more. If you have young children who enjoy the outdoors, New Jersey has a lot to offer.
New Jersey has jughandle left turns.
Along with having someone else pump your gas, another thing about driving in New Jersey that might throw you for a loop is the jughandle system. Starting in the late 1950s, major New Jersey intersections have a unique system wherein drivers who need to turn left take an offramp rather than turning left on the through road. While there are other states that feature the occasional jughandle turn, they’re extremely common in New Jersey.
There are plenty of other little differences that make New Jersey a unique place to live — for example, there is a BYOB (“bring your own bottle”) policy in New Jersey, meaning people can bring their own alcohol to restaurants and events. New Jersey is also known as “the diner capital of the world,” with over 600 establishments in the state — a major part of Americana.
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
