Quality of life comparison
If you lived in New Jersey instead of Pennsylvania, you would:
Health
be 12.8% less likely to be obese
In Pennsylvania, 34.4% of adults are obese as of 2022. In New Jersey, that number is 30.0% of people as of 2022.
Economy
make 15.1% more money
Pennsylvania has a GDP per capita of $61,506 as of 2024, while in New Jersey, the GDP per capita is $70,788 as of 2024.
be 17.7% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Pennsylvania, 11.3% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In New Jersey, however, that number is 9.3% as of 2023.
be 21.6% more likely to be unemployed
In Pennsylvania, 3.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In New Jersey, that number is 4.5% as of 2025.
Safety
be 18.5% less likely to be a victim of violent crime
Pennsylvania has a violent crime rate of 264 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In New Jersey, that number is 215 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 32.8% more money
The median household income in Pennsylvania is $76,081 as of 2023, while in New Jersey, it is $101,050 as of 2023.
pay 77.8% more for a home
The median home value in Pennsylvania is $240,500 as of 2023, compared to $427,600 in New Jersey as of 2023.
pay 42.3% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Pennsylvania is $1,162 as of 2023, while in New Jersey, it is $1,653 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 29.2% less likely to smoke
In Pennsylvania, 16.8% of adults smoke as of 2022. In New Jersey, that number is 11.9% as of 2022.
be 19.8% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Pennsylvania, 24.2% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In New Jersey, that number is 29.0% as of 2023.
be 3.0 times more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Pennsylvania, 3.3% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In New Jersey, that number is 9.9% as of 2023.
commute 4.3 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in Pennsylvania takes 26.6 minutes as of 2023. In New Jersey, it takes 30.9 minutes as of 2023.
be 29.1% more likely to be uninsured
In Pennsylvania, 5.5% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In New Jersey, that number is 7.1% as of 2023.
live in an area that is 4.4 times more densely populated
Pennsylvania has a population density of 112.2 people per sq km as of 2023. In New Jersey, that number is 488.2 people per sq km as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
