Moving out of NJ

[Sleeping~Beauty]

My DH and I are strongly considering moving out of NJ. We currently have two small children, hope to have more, and are looking for a more peaceful place to raise our children.

There are numerous reasons for leaving, a few for staying of course, and it is just such a huge decision. I think in NJ the quality of life is going downhill. We do own a home, but the taxes and the mortgage are astronomical. The roads are jam-packed, and where I live it is getting worse. It's a very cut throat, fast-paced area, "get out of the way or get mowed down" mentality, and it seems that any advantage that NJ may have had, it seems to be losing footing in such areas. Forget about car insurance, I have gotten my third letter in ten years that my car insurance company is no longer doing business here.

Am I being naive that there is someplace better? Is it unrealistic to think that any place the people are nicer, the air cleaner, etc.?

Also, my fear is that if we do move, and I'm looking to move much further south, will it be hard adjusting to such a new environment? I guess that depends on the individual, so that might be a silly question. It's a perfect time to move for my kids, they are 2.5 and 15 months. I'm actually looking at North Carolina, Charlotte region.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this.

 

[Microcell]

There are lots of places better. Do you have family considerations?

Kansas city is better all the way around, cheaper houses, many jobs... but land locked. We are driving 4 hours tomorrow to see more fall color. No one ever wants to live here, at least they don't want to seek it out. That is why it is the best kept secret in the midwest!

I have heard from lots of family that NJ is just getting too expensive. I know nothing about NC, but aren't the schools there bad or is that South Carolina? I wish you luck no matter what you decide.

 

[PrincessPatty]

I just got out of a long term relationship for the exact reasons that you have mentioned. My (ex) boyfriend lives in NJ in a fairly nice area, but he was never willing to move. He said once a Jersey boy, always a Jersey boy. I could never imagine living there. His mother works for the local township (borough?) and they have estimated that within 10 years, to live a middle-class life, you would have to bring in 250,000$. That is adsurd in my book. And the same as you, I want to move south, I am absolutely done with the snow and cold weather!! He said he could never live in the south. New Jersey is not any nicer than Pittsburgh in my book, and the people seem a whole lot nicer here too. Good luck to you and your family!!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

o yes, good ole jersey! Im planning on moving eventually as well..im stilli n college, so im going to wait till i graduate..but i dont see myself staying here forever

 

[Rhonda922]

I'm in central New Jersey. We currently rent and I think a big part of that is because I just don't want to settle down here for good with buying a house. I've lived here all my life and yes, I do find it true with a lot of the things that you have in your post. I'm beginning to really dislike my home state. My parents even left here a few years ago and moved to Virginia where they are both originally from. For forever before I even knew what taxes were I always recall my dad complaining about how high they are. Plus my and DH's car insurance is threw the roof and we have no tickets or anything. My parents are insuring 3 cars for a quarter of the price that we insure 2 for. We've talked about moving south. It's just a matter of figuring out where to move to and I worry about finding employment in a new place.

 

[Pop Daddy]

Anthony works in the grocery store
Savin' his pennies for someday
Mama Leone left a note on the door,
She said,
"Sonny, move out to the country."
Workin' too hard can give you
A heart attack
You oughta know by now
Who needs a house out in Hackensack?
Is that all you get for your money?

It seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
Mama, If that's movin' up then I'm movin' out.

Sergeant O'Leary is walkin' the beat
At night he becomes a bartender
He works at Mister Cacciatore's down
On Sullivan Street
Across from the medical center
Yeah and he's tradin' in his Chevy for a Cadillac
You oughta know by now
And if he can't drive
With a broken back
At least he can polish the fenders

And It seems such a waste of time
If that's what it's all about
Mama, If that's movin' up then I'm movin' out.

You should never argue with a crazy mind
You oughta know by now
You can pay Uncle Sam with the overtime
Is that all you get for your money?

And if that's what you have in mind
yeah if that's what you're all about
Good luck movin' up 'cause I'm movin' out.

 

[Karel]

There are other places to live in NJ, quieter places. Come south, there's plenty of fresh air and wide open spaces.

I've lived in NJ all my life and never had problems with car insurance.

You may get rid of some undesirable things but may find that other things change too, not for the better.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I'm originally from NE NJ. DH and I moved to SE FL. I was there 15 years and loved it for the most part. I left there a year and a half ago and now live in VA. Love it here, too! Yes, there are better places. You just have to find the place that's right for you. I can tell you that I was ready to leave FL quite a while before making the move. I didn't know where I wanted to go. Finally, when visiting friends here, it hit that this is the place. Glad I made this move! But I have to say finding a job was tough. I'm still looking for something better, but at least I have my foot in the door with this job.

 

[Rhonda922]

There are other places to live in NJ, quieter places. Come south, there's plenty of fresh air and wide open spaces.

I've lived in NJ all my life and never had problems with car insurance.

You may get rid of some undesirable things but may find that other things change too, not for the better.

Karel - What town are you in?

 

[Blueeyes101817]

i live in central/south jersey--car insurance is a killer and my little town is getting all built up

 

[scanne]

I live in Mt. Laurel - 1/2 hour outside Philly. It ain't cheap but we have good schools, close to 3 major cities: Philly, NY, DC. Lots of museums, culture, theatre, the shore, the mountains....

BUT we also have OUTRAGEOUS property taxes and car insurance. Crazy real estate costs.

I hope that we can move out of NJ in 5-10 years. We were planning on moving to FL twice in the past 5 years but both times we got close, I got pregnant.

Good luck!

 

[Big Dude]

Northwest Jersey boy here,,,actually, was born and raised in Central Jersey. Tough choice to make. Taxes may be higher but I work for a Fortune 500 that pays me very well. I have family in South Jersey, Central Jersey, and Pennsy. All have their ups and downs. I commute 32 miles (one way) each day to work. Most on an interstate. It's a crap shoot if I leave after 6:30 AM. I love the area I'm in. 30 minutes to the Poconos, 1 1/2 hours to the Jersey Shore. 1 hour to Philly, 1 hour to NY city. I can hike on the Appalachian trail in 30 minutes, view the Delaware water gap in 1/2 an hour also.

I've visited Kansas City last year and wasn't all that impressed with the area. Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful and all but just wasn't my cup of tea. I guess, I'm a Jersey boy through and through but I do like other parts of the country like the East coast of Maryland and Virginia. I wouldn't mind retiring there. I hope you find what you like but for me right now.....New Jersey and me....perfect together.

Adam aka Big Dude

 

[Karel]

We live in a little town called Wenonah. One mile square. Taxes are fairly high because we have practically no business in town. My house is small but worth more than other nearby areas. I have a small lake two blocks from my house where we hang out on the beach in the summer. If you don't like the cedar water, there's a swim club five blocks the other direction. My daughter has 25 kids in her sixth grade. That's the whole grade - two classes. We have conservation areas surrounding the town and we can walk on the trails. My kids ride their bikes around town. Is it perfect? No place is. There a lot of good things but things that we don't have either.

I grew up in central, went to college in the north, worked in Trenton and now live in the south. I have literally been in all four corners of the state. There are plenty of places to live here. I'm sure there are plenty of other nice places in the country, though.

Blueeyes101817 - You're in college, so I would imagine car insurance is a bit more expensive for you. What if you didn't have car insurance and had an accident? Would you have the money to fix your car?

We have super car insurance through my husband's work. I know in a couple of years though, things will go up when my boys are driving. NOT looking forward to that.

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I am in Hazlet, which is part of the Bayshore. I lived in Jersey City until I was six. My father and his brothers and cousins are all firemen there. I went to college at Trenton State. So this is a major change if we do move. I'm just so rooted here.

I'm about 35-40 minutes from Jenkinson's boardwalk (Pt. Pleasant) and about 15-20 minutes from the beach (Sea Bright, Sandy Hook). My husband commutes to NYC, it's about an hour and a half with public transportation.

The commute is a killer for my husband. And in the summer we are hit really hard with everyone going down the shore. We are a town many pass through or by.

Not a fan of the snow and cold winter at all. But I love the leaves changing colors. We've considered Florida, but many reasons keeping me from moving there, fall leaves being a small one.

 

[justhat]

We're sorta in the same predicament. I'm originally from NJ and my mom still lives there. Right now we live in DC but my husband is in his last year of medical school and so he's currently interviewing for residency positions in many states. He's got about 5 interviews in various hospitals in NJ/NY but I really don't know if I could go back there. I really grew to like DC and will miss it a lot if we have to move. So much so that I tell my husband that Madison and I will stay here while he moves wherever! I'm kidding, but I really don't want to leave. Yes, it's very expensive, more than NJ, but for whatever reason I just really like it here. My husband sorta wants to go to NJ (he's from New Orleans and his family is still down there) cause we could live with my mom (so not sure I can do that!) and we'd save a ton of money, but I really don't think it's worth it. But anyway, my point was that I think there is someplace better than NJ (and my whole family which is huge lives there, but I still don't care about living there). Right now that place is DC for us, but I'm hoping that in the future we can move to the Phoenix area, but that won't be till at least 2010.

 

[dis4me]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I am in Hazlet, which is part of the Bayshore. I lived in Jersey City until I was six. My father and his brothers and cousins are all firemen there. I went to college at Trenton State. So this is a major change if we do move. I'm just so rooted here.

I'm about 35-40 minutes from Jenkinson's boardwalk (Pt. Pleasant) and about 15-20 minutes from the beach (Sea Bright, Sandy Hook). My husband commutes to NYC, it's about an hour and a half with public transportation.

The commute is a killer for my husband. And in the summer we are hit really hard with everyone going down the shore. We are a town many pass through or by.

Not a fan of the snow and cold winter at all. But I love the leaves changing colors. We've considered Florida, but many reasons keeping me from moving there, fall leaves being a small one.

HI Neighbor. If you are going to get out now is the time to go!!! The real estate market couldn't be better. I keep trying ot convince my dh that we should move south but he loves it here.We were both born and raised> GO figure.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I live in North Central New Jersey, and I totally understand reasons for leaving. My biggest issue with living here is the everything-for-money, everything-about-appearances attitude. People are so occupied with the "perfect" appearance here. God forbid you have a crooked tooth or not a size 4 - you feel and are treated like a second class citizen. And everyone has to have the perfect mcMansion and the perfect large SUV, whether you can afford it or not!

Where I live, the cost of a basic small house is over $400,000, and I am not exaggerating. And I also live in a very transient area. We don't really bother to meet our neighbors anymore. Most families who live here are transferred in by the father's company, live here two years, then move away very quickly, selling their houses for $120,000 more than they bought it for, and we never hear from them again. Then a new family buys the house, lives here for about two years, and gone .... ! Real estate prices are beyond belief here.

Though I think I am afraid, that if us Northerners keep moving South, the South will turn into exactly what we are leaving!

For now, I am staying in NJ as long as my family and friends are here. I'll make do.

 

[pfishgirl]

Jersey girl here too...Born and raised...
I'm also in central Jersey.. Ocean County down at the shore...
The town I live in is qo quiet, sometimes, I wish it wasn't..
Also never had a car insurance problem...

 

[Karel]

I live in North Central New Jersey, and I totally understand reasons for leaving. My biggest issue with living here is the everything-for-money, everything-about-appearances attitude. People are so occupied with the "perfect" appearance here. God forbid you have a crooked tooth or not a size 4 - you feel and are treated like a second class citizen. And everyone has to have the perfect mcMansion and the perfect large SUV, whether you can afford it or not!

And you think that is something that happens only in NJ? That people aren't judged in any other state in the country? I know plenty of people who don't have any of those things.

 

[Joanna71985]

Jersey girl here! Once I finish school it's . I hope to move to Florida so I can work at Disney full-time (I'm a recreation major, BTW).