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New Jersey

New Jersey

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 66
Population9,267,014
Foreign Born10.2%
Population Density1,260people per mi²
Median Age40.1 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
ChangingSince 2000, this state has seen significant changes in racial and ethnic composition in a short time.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life measures an area by evaluating factors like cost of living, nearby amenities, country club access, airport proximity, socioeconomic signals and neighborhood character. For large states, this is a general average — quality of life can vary dramatically between metro areas, suburbs, and rural communities within the same state.

Cost of Living

146/100

46% above national average

B
Affordability Ratio

83%

The Real Cost of Living in New Jersey

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $26k$50k
Comfortable $83k$122k
Luxury $183k+$283k+
Elite (Top 5%) $232k+$359k+

Economics

Overall Economy Grade
A-
Great

A high-performing local economy. Incomes, home values, and employment meaningfully outpace national averages.

Median HHI
$101k+4.0%
34% above US avg
Avg Net Worth
$883k
35% above US avg
WFH
15.0%
5% above US avg
Homeownership
63.7%
3% below US avg
Median Home
$428k
52% above US avg
Avg HH Debt
$22k
21% above US avg
Poverty Rate
9.8%
15% below US avg
Public Assistance
9.8%
16% below US avg
Unemployment
6.1%
65% above US avg
Median Rent
$2k
42% above US avg

Crime

WARNING: The crime statistics are unreliable for this jurisdiction. Local authorities have either not reported or under reported their data to the FBI. This could be due to bad intentions, incompetence or technical issues. Regardless, we suggest skepticism.

Overall Crime Grade
C
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
12.0
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+25.1%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+12.4%
Homicide
0.01 / 1k Residents78% below US avg
Robbery
0.30 / 1k Residents55% below US avg
Aggravated Assault
1.12 / 1k Residents58% below US avg

Property Crime

5yr+37.9%
Burglary
0.95 / 1k Residents65% below US avg
Larceny-Theft
8.28 / 1k Residents41% below US avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.23 / 1k Residents57% below US avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+5Tilts Liberal
State Legislature of New Jersey
New Jersey Senate25D · 15R
New Jersey House57D · 23R
Presidential Voting Trends for New Jersey
Dem Rep
40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B-
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
F
Poor13.2% of income
Property Rights
D-
WeakIJ Grade D-
Firearm Rights
F
PoorFPC Grade F
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Importer (8% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
A+
Fully OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season216 daysstatewide average
Annual Rainfall56.1"statewide average
Elevation191 ftstatewide average

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
F
High Risk

High tactical risk. This location is likely close to major population centers, strategic targets, or sits in a high-disaster corridor. A retreat property and careful exit planning is required.

Cities

Largest Cities in New Jersey

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-18T23:43:52.000Z

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