Moving to New Jersey from Connecticut

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Connecticut to New Jersey — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Connecticut to New Jersey, you would find that New Jersey is 6.5% more expensive than Connecticut. A $75,000 salary in Connecticut would need to be roughly $74,163 in New Jersey to maintain the same lifestyle.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Connecticut to New Jersey.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 $74,163

To maintain the same standard of living in New Jersey

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 4.7% less

Groceries

pay 1.6% more

Transportation

pay 26.8% more

Housing

pay 6.0% less

Childcare

pay 18.4% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.7% less

See full cost of living breakdown

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Connecticut to New Jersey.

Is it safe?

Violent crime rate FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2023

incidents per 100,000 people per year

CT
147
NJ
215
Property crime rate FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2023

incidents per 100,000 people per year

CT
1528
NJ
1481

Connecticut generally does better on safety, though New Jersey leads in property crime rate.

How's the healthcare?

Uninsured rate US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of people without health insurance

CT
5.1%
NJ
7.1%
Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

CT
31.3%
NJ
30.0%

Connecticut generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Jersey leads in adult obesity rate.

What about housing?

Median home value US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

typical price of a home

CT
$343,200
NJ
$427,600
Median rent US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

typical monthly gross rent

CT
$1,431
NJ
$1,653

Connecticut performs better than New Jersey across all what about housing? metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

CT
91.3%
NJ
91.9%
Average commute US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

minutes each way to work

CT
27 min
NJ
31 min

Connecticut generally does better on infrastructure, though New Jersey leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

CT
4.1%
NJ
4.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

CT
$77,582
NJ
$70,788

Connecticut generally does better on employment & economy, though New Jersey leads in median household income.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2020

average years of life at birth

CT
78.4 yrs
NJ
77.5 yrs
Bachelor's degree or higher US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of adults with a 4-year college degree

CT
29%
NJ
29%

Connecticut generally does better on family life, though New Jersey leads in bachelor's degree or higher.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bridgeport Rain: 47.7 in/yr (1212 mm)
61° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Trenton Rain: 46.5 in/yr (1180 mm)
63° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bridgeport Trenton
Jan–Mar 42°/23°F (6°/-5°C) 44°/27°F (7°/-3°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/49°F (20°/10°C) 71°/51°F (22°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 80°/62°F (26°/16°C) 82°/62°F (28°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/34°F (12°/1°C) 54°/36°F (12°/2°C)
View all months
Month Bridgeport Trenton
Jan 38°/20°F (3.1°/-6.9°C) 39°/23°F (3.9°/-4.9°C)
Feb 41°/21°F (4.9°/-6.0°C) 42°/26°F (5.7°/-3.4°C)
Mar 47°/29°F (8.6°/-1.7°C) 51°/32°F (10.5°/-0.1°C)
Apr 59°/40°F (15.1°/4.2°C) 61°/41°F (16.3°/5.0°C)
May 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.6°C) 72°/51°F (22.1°/10.3°C)
Jun 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.1°C) 81°/60°F (27.1°/15.7°C)
Jul 83°/65°F (28.1°/18.3°C) 85°/66°F (29.6°/18.9°C)
Aug 82°/64°F (27.6°/17.7°C) 84°/64°F (28.7°/17.9°C)
Sep 75°/56°F (23.7°/13.1°C) 76°/56°F (24.5°/13.6°C)
Oct 63°/44°F (17.4°/6.5°C) 65°/44°F (18.3°/6.8°C)
Nov 54°/34°F (12.1°/1.3°C) 54°/37°F (12.5°/2.7°C)
Dec 43°/24°F (6.1°/-4.2°C) 43°/28°F (6.2°/-2.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in New Jersey than Connecticut?

Costs in New Jersey and Connecticut are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.

How much money do I need to move to New Jersey?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $18,541 in New Jersey on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (movers, a truck rental, and a rental deposit).

Is New Jersey safe?

Connecticut generally does better on safety, though New Jersey leads in property crime rate.

How is healthcare in New Jersey compared to Connecticut?

Connecticut generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Jersey leads in adult obesity rate.

What's the weather like in New Jersey compared to Connecticut?

The average high temperature in Trenton is 63°F, compared to 61°F in Bridgeport. Trenton receives around 46.5 in of rainfall per year, while Bridgeport gets 47.7 in.

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