Where to move from New Jersey
On a $105,000 salary (about the New Jersey median household income) you keep $77,568 after 2026 taxes. 47 states have lower overall prices, and the biggest gain in buying power (+30.9%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
Buying power by destination
Every state ranked for someone leaving New Jersey
The ranking starts at about New Jersey's median household income. Enter your own salary and filing status to re-rank every state for you.
At a salary of $105,000, filing single, the biggest gain in buying power (+30.9%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
| Move to | Buying power | Take-home change | Rent / mo | Equal salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | +30.9% | +$5,130 | $999 | $77,200 |
| North Dakota | +29.1% | +$4,342 | $980 | $78,000 |
| Mississippi | +27.7% | +$1,662 | $990 | $79,100 |
| Arkansas | +27.2% | +$1,248 | $982 | $79,100 |
| Louisiana | +27.1% | +$2,366 | $1,064 | $79,700 |
| Iowa | +26.8% | +$1,792 | $981 | $79,800 |
| Tennessee | +26.2% | +$5,130 | $1,284 | $80,600 |
| Oklahoma | +25.4% | +$950 | $1,044 | $80,800 |
| Wyoming | +25.1% | +$5,130 | $998 | $81,400 |
| Alabama | +23.8% | +$833 | $1,077 | $82,300 |
| West Virginia | +23.5% | +$1,210 | $883 | $82,200 |
| Kentucky | +23.1% | +$1,573 | $998 | $82,800 |
| Nebraska | +22.7% | +$1,232 | $1,102 | $82,900 |
| Ohio | +21.8% | +$3,011 | $1,090 | $83,700 |
| Missouri | +21.6% | +$1,166 | $1,067 | $83,600 |
| Kansas | +20.9% | +$71 | $1,079 | $84,300 |
| New Mexico | +20.0% | +$1,316 | $1,117 | $84,900 |
| Texas | +19.5% | +$5,130 | $1,475 | $85,900 |
| North Carolina | +17.5% | +$1,449 | $1,338 | $87,200 |
| Indiana | +17.1% | +$346 | $1,104 | $87,700 |
| South Carolina | +17.1% | +$625 | $1,272 | $87,300 |
| Wisconsin | +16.2% | +$406 | $1,142 | $88,100 |
| Nevada | +16.0% | +$5,130 | $1,709 | $88,800 |
| Montana | +15.8% | +$558 | $1,177 | $88,500 |
| Idaho | +14.9% | +$673 | $1,384 | $89,400 |
| Michigan | +14.4% | +$918 | $1,168 | $90,000 |
| Pennsylvania | +14.1% | +$1,833 | $1,252 | $90,400 |
| Georgia | +13.9% | +$639 | $1,506 | $90,400 |
| Alaska | +12.9% | +$4,859 | $1,444 | $91,600 |
| Florida | +12.2% | +$5,130 | $1,812 | $92,200 |
| Arizona | +12.1% | +$2,907 | $1,672 | $92,200 |
| Vermont | +12.0% | +$660 | $1,319 | $91,900 |
| New Hampshire | +11.3% | +$5,130 | $1,558 | $93,000 |
| Maine | +10.8% | -$923 | $1,210 | $93,000 |
| Utah | +10.7% | +$457 | $1,593 | $93,600 |
| Minnesota | +9.0% | -$949 | $1,291 | $95,000 |
| Illinois | +8.9% | +$77 | $1,322 | $95,300 |
| Delaware | +7.8% | -$879 | $1,530 | $96,300 |
| Virginia | +7.5% | -$93 | $1,646 | $96,600 |
| Rhode Island | +7.2% | +$644 | $1,418 | $96,900 |
| Colorado | +6.6% | +$756 | $1,822 | $97,600 |
| Washington | +6.5% | +$3,673 | $1,824 | $97,800 |
| Connecticut | +4.1% | -$695 | $1,550 | $100,200 |
| Massachusetts | +2.3% | -$383 | $1,848 | $102,300 |
| Oregon | +0.5% | -$3,453 | $1,597 | $104,300 |
| New York | +0.3% | -$437 | $1,634 | $104,700 |
| Maryland | +0.1% | -$2,672 | $1,721 | $104,900 |
| Washington, DC | -2.1% | -$827 | $1,931 | $107,600 |
| Hawaii | -2.9% | -$1,436 | $1,942 | $108,700 |
| California | -3.9% | -$1,755 | $2,104 | $110,200 |
Single filer, $105,000 W-2 salary. "Buying power" is after-tax pay adjusted for regional prices, and "Equal salary" is the pay that keeps it the same (see how to work out the salary you need). Weighing a state with no income tax? See what you really save.
Not sure where to go? Take the where-should-I-move quiz to match states to your budget and priorities, or read how to choose a city to move to.
Where New Jersey residents actually move
New Jersey lost households to other states in every one of the last five IRS years.
IRS Statistics of Income migration data, 2022–2023. See national migration.
Everyday costs in New Jersey
- Average electric bill
- $128/mo
- Regular gas
- $4.41/gal
- Insure + fuel one car
- $3,688/yr
- Health plan, age 40
- $545/mo
- Natural hazard risk
- Among the highest (94.4)
EIA 2024 bills, AAA gas, NAIC insurance + 12,000 miles of gas, KFF 2026 benchmark silver before subsidies, FEMA National Risk Index, Census ACS 2024.
Cities in New Jersey
More about living in New Jersey
Cost of living
Prices and the salary it takes to rent, buy, or live a typical lifestyle in New Jersey.
Buying a home
Income needed and monthly cost of the median New Jersey home.
Retiring in New Jersey
How New Jersey taxes Social Security, pensions and 401(k)s.
Moving to New Jersey
Who moves here, what it costs, and the driver license and registration deadlines.
Moving costs
What it costs to move from New Jersey to every other state.
Car shipping
What it costs to ship a car from New Jersey to every state.
Disaster risk
FEMA risk for New Jersey and every county.
Health insurance
2026 Marketplace premiums in New Jersey by age.
Property tax by county
Effective rates for every New Jersey county.
Frequently asked questions
Where do people from New Jersey move?
The top destinations in IRS data for 2022–2023 were New York (26,793 households), Florida (20,113 households), Pennsylvania (18,767 households).
Is New Jersey gaining or losing residents to other states?
New Jersey had a net loss of 19,370 households to other states in 2022–2023 (IRS).
Which state gives the most buying power if I leave New Jersey?
On a $105,000 salary, South Dakota raises your after-tax, price-adjusted income the most (+30.9%).
Moving to New Jersey instead?
The Moving to New Jersey guide covers where newcomers come from, the cost of living and the first-month deadlines. Reports for the most common moves here: