Moving to the Garden State
Moving from the warm climate and laid-back lifestyle of vibrant Miami, to the diverse climate and busy New Jersey will surely be a big change in your life. If you’ve lived in Miami long enough, you must have had enough of Miami’s weather. Besides the warm climate and low humid periods from November to April, Miami also has a rainy and hurricane season which runs from June to November.
New Jersey too has hot and rainy summers for that matter, but they are not as bad as Miami’s summers. As a snowbird, you know all about New Jersey’s cold and snowly winters, and for that you go to Florida. But moderate temperatures during the fall and spring seasons will be totally worth it. The Southern, central, and northeastern parts have a humid subtropical climate, while the northwestern part of New Jersey has a humid continental climate where temperatures can get much lower. And that is when and why the snowbirds return back north.
Home to hundreds of gardens, 10,300 farms, and 730,000 acres of farmland, New Jersey is the fourth-smallest states by area (8,723 mi²) but the 11th most populated in the US with over 9 million residents as of 2017. New Jersey is also the most densely populated state in the US.
There is an influx of tourist from New York and Pennsylvania, driven by New Jersey’s natural and cultural attractions, throughout the year and especially during the summer as New Jersey offers amazing beaches. Even though New Jerseyans are not very thrilled about the crowds of tourists, the revenues coming from tourism directly increase the number of job openings and decrease the overall unemployment rate.
Housing and living Cost
If you haven’t yet decided where in New Jersey to relocate to, Hoboken, Princeton, Morristown, Trenton, Montclair, Pleasantville, South Brunswick, Madison, and Fair Lawn are some of the best places you can choose. We can’t really say if housing and other expenses will cost more or less compared to Miami because it really depends where in New Jersey you live and what you do.
For example, overall, Newark is 9% cheaper compared to Miami and its housing is 27% cheaper. But if you pick Hoboken you should know that it is 59% more expensive than Miami and housing in Hoboken is 138% more expensive. In general, the average cost of living is higher compared to most US states but at the same time, the average annual income is around $58,000, which is higher than the national average. Part of the Mid-Atlantic region, the New Jersey peninsula lies entirely within the New York and Philadelphia combined statistical areas which make it the third wealthiest state in the US by median household income as of 2016.
Employment and key Industries
Among the key industries in New Jersey are the pharmaceutical, the financial, food processing, electric equipment, chemical development, tourism, telecommunications, printing, and publishing industry. The state offers plenty of well-paid job opportunities and educational institutions no matter where in New Jersey you decide to settle.
Transportation
Compared to many other states, in New Jersey you will have plenty of public transportation options. The New Jersey Transit Corporation, which operates extensive rail and bus service as well as light rail systems across the state will be your best friend. Nevertheless, you will still have to own at least one car that can take you places on your own schedule.
What to do in New Jersey?
You will certainly have a lot to do and see. Its diverse cuisine, fun bars, the Long Beach Island, bagels, the gardens and the farmland, fresh produce, pizza, and beautiful beaches like Cape May and Spring Lake are just some of the things you will fall in love with. Once you relocate to New Jersey you will find even more.
Among the top sights to see in New Jersey are the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Six Flags Great Adventure, the Liberty State Park, Cape May Lighthouse, Adventure Aquarium, Grounds for Sculpture, Absecon Lighthouse, Cape May County Park & Zoo, Turtle Back Zoo, Liberty Science Center, Casino Pier amusement park, Emlen Physick Estate, and of course the well-known Jersey Shore. And if you ever get bored in New Jersey, you can always make a short trip to Philadelphia or New York City. Everything is close there, on the east coast and the whole coast is connected by rail so you will have your opportunities to explore.
Registering your vehicle and getting your state driver’s license
Once you establish your move in New Jersey, you will have up to 60 days to register your vehicle with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), transfer the title, and get your NJ driver’s license. Keep in mind that in order to register your vehicle liability insurance is mandatory. As a new resident in New Jersey, after you register, you will need to have your car inspected as well.