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Hi I'm a former resident of Central NJ and I was considering moving back up there, but I'm curious to know why such a hike in regards to the standard of living up there? I've read NJ is in the top tier of most expensive states to live in. However, what it reports to the government in taxes, etc., it receives no reciprocity. Does anyone know the deal about this? Thanks.
Hi I'm a former resident of Central NJ and I was considering moving back up there, but I'm curious to know why such a hike in regards to the standard of living up there? I've read NJ is in the top tier of most expensive states to live in. However, what it reports to the government in taxes, etc., it receives no reciprocity. Does anyone know the deal about this? Thanks.
NJ is one of the wealthiest states, so we pay a lot of taxes to the federal government. Federal funding gets distributed either in an equal manner, or to worse off places. (which overall, we aren't).
NJ is a high(er) population state. So we have significantly less political power relative to population than there are in the low population states. (Every state gets 2 Senators). We're also not a "swing" state, so there's no incentive for bribery by the dominant party.
NJ is a small state. Various aspects of federal funding are largely biased toward the large, empty states. Highway funding for example.
Anyway, this largely does not have a great deal to do with why the state is expensive to live in. It's expensive to live in because there's a limited amount of land, and a lot of people who want to live there.
Yes. There is a lot of opportunity in NJ and a lot of quality jobs relative to other places.
Just be aware that housing is very expensive, especially in North Jersey.
And also not that you said North Jersey, but they've even got some decently priced homes. Not nearly as terrible as California. But yes, North Jersey is also like a NYC suburb, so it's very prominent, and the individuals scoring excellent jobs in NYC also want a nice residence, but even Bridgewater has its upper style homes. It just depends on where you live. NJ also has great jobs in the state itself.
Ok thanks a lot millerm277. Would you recommend the state for a single college graduate?
I'd recommend New York (or Boston or DC or Austin or Portland or San Francisco etc.) instead unless a specific reason like a job offer or family is bringing you to Jersey specifically. Not many people move here from other parts of the country except for those specific reasons and a lot of the young people leave for the city or just elsewhere in their twenties, so you won't find many other young single college graduates in NJ itself and those who do will often be tightly woven into good-ole-boy/gal social networks rather than transplants more open to meeting new people.
Besides that it's a nice place and you'll meet people eventually, so don't let that stop you from taking a good job offer or being around to help aging family, but at the same time unless you have a compelling reason to come to Jersey go to somewhere other young single college graduates are flocking instead.
If you're an older single college graduate the advice above still applies, but to a much lesser extent because people in your rough social peer group will have started migrating back to the suburbs.
I'd recommend New York (or Boston or DC or Austin or Portland or San Francisco etc.) instead unless a specific reason like a job offer or family is bringing you to Jersey specifically. Not many people move here from other parts of the country except for those specific reasons and a lot of the young people leave for the city or just elsewhere in their twenties, so you won't find many other young single college graduates in NJ itself and those who do will often be tightly woven into good-ole-boy/gal social networks rather than transplants more open to meeting new people.
Besides that it's a nice place and you'll meet people eventually, so don't let that stop you from taking a good job offer or being around to help aging family, but at the same time unless you have a compelling reason to come to Jersey go to somewhere other young single college graduates are flocking instead.
If you're an older single college graduate the advice above still applies, but to a much lesser extent because people in your rough social peer group will have started migrating back to the suburbs.
I think NJ has always been more expensive (it hasn't "just become") but I think I'm in the minority who feels this way. I remember having having tax/housing discussions 20+ years ago with colleagues in other states and was surprised how much different the COL was here (I was young and always lived here so didn't know the difference).
I think NJ has always been more expensive (it hasn't "just become") but I think I'm in the minority who feels this way. I remember having having tax/housing discussions 20+ years ago with colleagues in other states and was surprised how much different the COL was here (I was young and always lived here so didn't know the difference).
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