Things You Need to Know Before Moving to New Jersey
April 25, 2021 | Moving
Early moving trends for 2021 show people are not moving to New Jersey at the same rate as people moving into sunbelt states like Texas. In other words, there are more outbound moves than inbound moves to New Jersey. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
New Jersey is a Small State with a Big Population
New Jersey is situated between the two metropolitan areas of Philadelphia and New York, which is one of many reasons why people love living in New Jersey.
Because hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents commute to New York and Pennsylvania, the state’s transportation system is one of the busiest and most extensive in the world. And, it explains the average population density (the highest in the country) of New Jersey, which is 1,211.3 residents per square mile of land area.
Even so, New Jersey offers thousands of acres of state and national parks to explore throughout the year. The most densely populated counties in New Jersey offer an easy commute to New York: Hudson, Bergen, Essex, and Union.
In these counties, population density per square mile can quickly surpass 6,000 people! An easy commute and great employment opportunities are just a few reasons people are still moving to New Jersey.
New Jersey Climate Statistics
Most people think of the sandy beaches along the Jersey shore, but New Jersey sees it’s fair share of sun, rain, and snow:
- Average rainfall: 48 inches
- Average snowfall: 23 inches
- Sunshine: 206 sunny days
- Summer high: 85 degrees
- Winter low: 22 degrees
New Jersey is Unique
New Jersey is the only state in America in which all 21 counties are classified as metropolitan areas. As a result, the Townships offer vibrant art and culture scenes and are steeped in history.
Moreover, New Jersey knows how to eat well. While the Garden State is known for blueberries, cranberries, peaches, and tomatoes, food lovers moving to New Jersey won’t be disappointed. From fine dining to eclectic restaurants and food trucks, gourmands will be in heaven here.
Music lovers won’t be disappointed either. After all, the “The Boss” started his career playing the bar circuit in New Jersey while assembling his famous E Street Band. Other notable musicians from New Jersey include Jon Bon Jovi, Whitney Houston, Paul Simon, and Dionne Warwick.
Top New Jersey Colleges
If you’re a high school student looking to have your college experience in New Jersey, there’s no shortage of prestigious schools to choose from. Even if you don’t get into the coveted Princeton, there are plenty of other colleges and universities in the area with admirable academic programs. These are just a few of the most notable:
- Princeton University (Princeton)
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick (Piscataway)
- Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken)
- College of New Jersey (Ewing)
- Rutgers University – Newark (Newark)
- Seton Hall University (South Orange)
- New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark)
- Montclair State University (Montclair)
- Rutgers University – Camden (Camden)
- Rowan University (Glassboro)
New Jersey Neighborhood Highlights
As a result of the pandemic, people began moving out of large metropolitan cities known for small homes and tiny apartments to suburbs offering homes with larger living areas and lots. As a result, home sellers in the suburbs saw their housing values skyrocket.
Suburbs are especially appealing because there is less population density and easier access to natural areas for outdoor hiking and exercising. Keep in mind though, while New Jersey is densely populated it still offers 130-miles of Atlantic shoreline and sandy beaches.
As a result of the pandemic and overall moving trends, outbound moves are expected to exceed inbound moves in New Jersey for the foreseeable future.
This could present an opportunity for anyone considering moving to the Garden State. Those seeking a not-so-distant relocation from New York or Philadelphia may very well find more competitive housing prices for buyers.
- New Jersey Median Home Value: $387,800
- New Jersey Median Average Rental Expense: $1,259 for 1 bedroom, $1,545 for 2 bedroom
- *Keep an eye on real estate websites like Zillow to watch these trends.
New Jersey suburbs like South Brunswick, Monmouth Junction, Stanhope, and Wood-Ridge, may be appealing to those seeking access to recreational areas and anyone looking for a buyer-friendly housing market.
What we love about South Brunswick and Monmouth Junction
Monmouth Junction is incorporated in South Brunswick, so when you hear locals talk about Monmouth Junction, you can think of it as a neighborhood within South Brunswick Township.
This Garden State Township won accolades as the “Best Places to Live” on CNNMoney.com. So it was no surprise when the neighborhood website Niche.com chose Monmouth Junction as one of the Top 10 places to live in New Jersey in 2021.
People are moving to South Brunswick thanks to its small-town charm next to big-city culture and top-rated schools. If you love the outdoors, Middlesex County, there are 13 major municipal parks and three county parks with more than 2,000 acres of parkland in Middlesex County!
Other reasons people are flocking to South Brunswick and Monmouth Junction include:
- 10-miles from Princeton University Art Museum
- Named top 10 places to live in New Jersey by Niche.com
- Top-rated schools
- Commutable to Newark, Manhattan, and Downtown NYC
What we love about Wood-Ridge
- High-density living near Westmont Train Station
- Easy Commute to NYC
- Well-manicured city streets
- Vibrant, eclectic NJ dining scene
The New York Times called Wood-Ridge an “unpretentious suburb” with reasonably priced homes (some with skyline views!). Once a tiny, sleepy town, Wood-Ridge has evolved into a vibrant community thanks to the Westmont Station redevelopment project.
Today, Westmont Station neighborhoods offer a mix of townhouses, condominiums, apartments, and a new train station close to residential and mixed-use communities.
Wood-Ridge is a great town for commuters and offers much more affordable housing than NYC. If townhomes or condos aren’t for you, single-family homes built in the early to mid-20th century make up most of the rest of the housing stock and are still considered affordable.
Not to be confused with “Ridgewood and Woodbridge” is often the case; you can remember Wood-Ridge as the hyphenated borough in Bergen County.
Find a Garden State Storage Unit with Metro
Variety is the spice of life in the Garden State. Whether you’re moving here for an easy commute to Manhattan or were drawn by the beautiful beaches and diverse culture, you can find what you are looking for here.
As you’re making your move, don’t forget, Metro Self Storage can help you find a storage unit in New Jersey one of several New Jersey cities to make your transition an easy one.
