Why is it so expensive to live in New Jersey? (transplants, apartments)

[NorthBradin85]

I wanna to know why is it so expensive to live up there? It upsets me even more ever since I searched most of many places with affordable prices of apartments that I truly wanna to live up there. I have known lots of people live there since I was young kid.

Now I'm no longer live in New Jersey, I promise myself that I will not return up there, because of my grandfather's death on September 11th, 2006. He passed away so suddenly. When I'm around in New Jersey, I actually can see his spirit. It pains me even more than it was before.

Mind you, how is everything in New Jersey? Is it going well or not?

[MPBsr]

One word, "Corruption".

[Fairfax Mom]

Corruption is correct - I miss NJ also but could not stomach paying so much for home taxes and car insurance - it was not worth it

[dhanu86]

overflow of wealthier NYers while middle class is moving out which raises the bar, speculator greed foolishness, desperate banks, school districts that vary like night and day making towns hit or miss, division among cultures in NJ, and much more new jobs being created in places like NC while NJ is already fully developed. that's my guess why it's so expensive here

[JG183]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

Corruption is correct - I miss NJ also but could not stomach paying so much for home taxes and car insurance - it was not worth it

McGreevey brought auto ins. competition back to NJ, and my rates are almost half of what they were in 2000...

Corzine lowered my property taxes by 20%

despite everybody's complaining, every Census report I've read shows NJ's population always growing -- more people = more expenses.

and, salaries are comparatively higher here, so it ought to offset the higher costs -- it's just that there's less margin for error in one's budget.

[JG183]

Originally Posted by dhanu86

school districts that vary like night and day

you're touching upon the real reason for high property taxes in NJ -- home rule

look at your property tax bill : nowhere on it does it say state taxes, it's county & municipal taxes.

few of these mayors want to give up home rule. those that have regionalized their services, have seen savings.

[desertsun41]

I agree. CORRUPTION !!!! Do as I say not as I do rule. Ask Corslime about speed limits and seat belt use.

The highest car insurance, the highest property taxes, the largest population decrease of any other state.

The old joke goes: Even uneducated broom sweepers make $50,000 a year but still cant afford to make ends meet.

[sligogirl]

We are out in 4 years!!
Sorry NJ, tired of your x3 state, county, municipal taxes. Auto out of control ..
DPW workers, making $50k year, to rake leaves, from town park, are your kidding me!!!!

[lwnj]

Yes, overflow of NY transplants. 11 years ago, $150K can buy you a bi-level in Howell, or a 3-bedroom townhouse in Marlboro. Those mansions in Jackson were $180K. All change when those guys with $ poured in.

And most of all, property tax. Extremely heavy property tax on both reisdents and business. Cost per student here is easily over $11K; while in the even-more-expensive Silicon Valley, their cost per student is only $5K. Go figure.

[tahiti]

the same reason the suburbs of *any* alpha city are expensive.