Quality of Life Score
59.81
State Comparison
New Jersey vs New York
New Jersey is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in New Jersey, New Jersey has higher incomes, New Jersey has lower state income tax, and New Jersey gets more sunshine.
New Jersey
19
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
New York
12
/ 31
metrics won
NJ wins Housing
NJ wins Quality of Life
NJ wins Climate
NJ wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
New Jersey
winner
vs
New York
New Jersey scores higher on quality of life — 1.87 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
New Jersey is 11.0 points cheaper overall
New Jersey has the lower cost-of-living index. New Jersey is at 121.7, while New York is at 132.7.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $5.15 further in New Jersey
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $93.45 of local buying power in New Jersey, versus $88.30 in New York.
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Income
New Jersey income is 23.6% higher
New Jersey has the higher median household income at $97,126, compared with $78,609 in New York.
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Jobs
New York minimum wage is $1.01 higher
New York has the higher statewide minimum wage at $16.50/hr, compared with $15.49/hr in New Jersey.
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Housing
New Jersey homes cost about 1.1x more
New York has the lower median home value at $367,200, versus $400,900 in New Jersey.
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Taxes
New Jersey has lower state income tax
New Jersey has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 10.75%, compared with 10.90% in New York.
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New Jersey
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 10.8%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
New York
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 10.9%)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (112.9 for New Jersey, 114.8 for New York). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
New Jersey
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: New Jersey
- New Jersey has a lower overall cost of living.
- New Jersey has a lower housing cost index.
- New Jersey shows higher median income.
- New Jersey has a lower violent crime rate.
- New Jersey education proxy is higher.
- New Jersey has more sunny days.
Cons
- New Jersey has higher median home values.
- New Jersey has higher property tax rates on average.
- New Jersey job growth trend is weaker.
- New Jersey health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- New Jersey health coverage access proxy is weaker.
New York
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: New York
- New York has lower median home values.
- New York has lower property tax rates on average.
- New York job growth trend is stronger.
- New York health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- New York health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- New York has a higher overall cost of living.
- New York has a higher housing cost index.
- New York shows lower median income.
- New York has a higher violent crime rate.
- New York education proxy is lower.
- New York has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
NJ
|
NY
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Trenton | Albany |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
9,288,994
|
20,201,249
|
|
Median Income
|
$97,126
|
$78,609
|
|
Cost of Living
|
121.7
|
132.7
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$400,900
|
$367,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
2.11%
|
1.55%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
10.75%
|
10.90%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$15.49/hr
|
$16.50/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.093/gal
|
$4.069/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
23.13 c/kWh
|
28.37 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
59.81
|
57.94
|
|
Average Temperature
|
52.7°F
|
45.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
94 days
|
63 days
|
|
Land Area
|
8,723 sq mi
|
54,555 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1,064.9 per sq mi
|
370.3 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 18, 1787 (#3)
|
July 26, 1788 (#11)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
15
shown
Saving Money
New Jersey is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 121.7 vs 132.7 in New York. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
New York is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.069/gal in New York vs $4.093/gal in New Jersey. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
New York has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $16.50/hr in New York vs $15.49/hr in New Jersey. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
New Jersey has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 23.13 c/kWh in New Jersey vs 28.37 c/kWh in New York. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
New Jersey is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 4.13x in New Jersey vs 4.67x in New York. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
New Jersey is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 19.5% in New Jersey vs 24.1% in New York. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
New York has a larger population than New Jersey by 10,912,255 people.
Population Density
New Jersey is more densely populated than New York.
Bachelor's Degree
New Jersey has a higher college-educated share than New York.
Advanced Degree
New York has a higher advanced-degree share than New Jersey.
People Also Ask
New Jersey vs New York - Common Questions
Q Is New Jersey cheaper to live in than New York?
New Jersey has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), New Jersey scores 121.7 versus 132.7 for New York - a gap of 11.0 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - New Jersey or New York?
$100 goes further in New Jersey. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $93.45 in New Jersey, compared with $88.30 in New York.
Q Which state is bigger - New Jersey or New York?
New York is larger, covering 54,555 sq mi compared with 8,723 sq mi for New Jersey - roughly 6.3x the size.
Q Does New Jersey or New York have more people?
New York has the larger population at 20,201,249, compared with 9,288,994 in New Jersey.
Q Which state has higher household income - New Jersey or New York?
New Jersey has the higher median household income at $97,126, versus $78,609 in New York.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - New Jersey or New York?
New Jersey has the lower state income tax top rate at 10.75%, compared with 10.90% in New York.
Q Is housing cheaper in New Jersey or New York?
Homes are cheaper in New York, where the median home value is $367,200, versus $400,900 in New Jersey.
Q Which state is more densely populated - New Jersey or New York?
New Jersey is more densely populated at 1,064.9 per sq mi people per sq mi. New York is more spread out at 370.3 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.