29 Things to Know Before Making New Jersey Home
Did you know New Jersey is America’s #1 state to live and buy a home in? It’s true. Need some convincing? Read on to see why Garden State is the place for you to settle down, buy a home, and spawn the next generation of Super New Jerseyans.
Lots of eligible scientists looking for love
Looking to meet eligible scientists, but not having any luck? You could try online dating sites like Science Connection or you could just head to New Jersey, which is home to the highest concentration of scientists and engineers per square mile in the world. Many of these science folks are single and looking to mingle.
Jersey Devil far tougher than Bigfoot
Do you know why nobody ever sees Bigfoot in New Jersey? Because Bigfoot is terrified to go into the Pine Barrens for fear of bumping into the Jersey Devil.
Up all night to eat breakfast
In many states, people love “brunch,” which is just what people in New York City call an overpriced breakfast you have to wait in line for. New Jersey is the anti-brunch state because it’s packed to the gills with the highest concentration of 24-hour diners in the country. Basically, you can have breakfast any hour of the day all across the state because New Jersey is awesome.
Roller coasters galore
With 18 amusement parks within its borders New Jersey has the most per square mile of any U.S. state. That means roller coasters are plentiful and the saltwater taffy is freshly made. New Jersey is basically a summer vacation every day of the year.
You can totally hang out at Medieval Times
Do you know what people do for fun in Massachusetts? They play checkers in their mothers’ basements. And aside from that they definitely don’t enjoy eating roasted meats while watching knights battle at Medieval Times like people in New Jersey do. Only eight states have Medieval Times locations so only eight states are blessed with the opportunity to watch epic battles of steel and steed from ringside seats. And great news—the New Jersey location is currently hiring.
Drunk drivers can’t have personalized license plates
If you have a D.U.I. you legally cannot get a personalized license plate in New Jersey. Also, the following license plate options have been previously rejected by N.J. Motor Vehicle Commission so don’t even try: AZZMAN, , BALLNN, BARF, BSWLKS, FATRBBT, FORPLAY, GOTPORK, GITSOME, IAM469, JIHAD, OLDFART, PIMPN, POLICE, POOTIE, SHEMEAT, SOCRMOM, and URFNSLO.
New Jersey basically invented America
Every state is American, but some states are more American than others. Is New Jersey the most American? It was the site of these very American firsts…
- First organized baseball game
- First movie (developed by Thomas Edison)
- First brewery
- First drive-in theater
- First phonograph
- First professional basketball game
- First intercollegiate football game (Rutgers vs. Princeton in 1869)
- First organized baseball game
- First solid body electric guitar
Lots of sports teams to choose from
New Jersey is split when it comes to its favorite sports teams. Northern New Jersey generally roots for New York teams and southern New Jersey tends to prefer Philadelphia-based teams. So you’ll have a lot of options. You can even be like New Jersey’s Governor and root for the Dallas Cowboys even though that’s completely stupid.
You’ll never pump your own gas again
People in other states get out of their cars and pump their own gas like they’re Medieval serfs or something. In New Jersey, thanks to state law, drivers relax in their vehicles while humble gas servants do the dirty work for them. Life in New Jersey is like living in the future, and it will definitely be the first state people are issued jetpacks.
Most popular state to live in
Despite being the fourth smallest U.S. state New Jersey has the 11th largest population. With a whopping 1,185 residents per square mile, it’s the most densely populated of any state, which makes it the most popular state to live in. Sorry, Alaska.
Most Peruvian-Americans per capita
Nearly one percent of New Jersey’s population is Peruvian-Americans, which is the highest percentage of any U.S. state. There are also 24 Peruvian restaurants and the Peruvian consulate within its borders. If you want to live in Peru, but can’t, then consider moving to New Jersey.
New Jersey is swimming in dollars
New Jersey’s median household income is a rocking $71,629, which is second only to Maryland. If you’re living in Pennsylvania or New York instead of New Jersey then you are leaving money on the table.
It’s America’s sugar mama
Part of being a New Jersey taxpayer is the pride/pain you’ll feel subsidizing America’s less affluent states. For every dollar the federal government receives in taxes from New Jersey it in turn spends just $0.61 on the Garden State, the least of any state. Compare that to New Mexico which received $2.03 for every dollar it’s taxed, or Mississippi’s $2.02.
Iconic bald men
A large percentage of America’s most iconic bald men hail from The Garden State. Despite a lack of functional hair follicles these men still found fame: actors John Amos, James Gandolfini, Danny DeVito, Taye Diggs, John Travolta, Jason Alexander, Matt Servito, and Ed Harris, as well as NFL Hall of Famer Franco Harris, performer Frank Sinatra, NFL coach Bruce Arians, and sportscaster Dick Vitale.
New Jersey’s wimps are moving to Oregon
According to the 2014 National Movers Study, more people are moving out of New Jersey than moving into it. The moving deficit was 65 percent outbound, which was the worst in the country. Where are people fleeing New Jersey for? Apparently Oregon, which had 66% of all moves going inbound. However, this modern-day Oregon Trail is surely a fad, and once those traitors have drunk their fill of Oregon’s craft beers and cold-brewed coffee they’ll shave their beards and come crawling back to New Jersey because Oregon has the fifth-highest unemployment rate.
New Jersey is for surfers
It may not seem like a surf destination, but New Jersey has plenty of surfable breaks and a fraction of the shark attacks that Hawaii and Florida have.
#1 in superhero creation (toxic waste dumps)
If you’re an aspiring superhero you’ll no doubt be drawn to New Jersey and its three nuclear power plants and a plethora of Superfund sites (most in the country). Experts will tell you exposure to radiation and toxic chemics won’t give you superpowers, but it worked for Spiderman and The Incredible Hulk, right?
It’s got that Napoleon connection
The state was once home to Joseph Bonaparte, the older brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. He arrived in America after fleeing Europe with nothing but his manservant and a suitcase full of jewels. Accustomed to the finest luxuries, Joseph chose to settle in New Jersey and build a palace. He took at least one mistress. He hung out with John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay. He seemed to get on well with the neighbors. Then he moved to Italy and died. That’s why you don’t leave New Jersey.
Surprisingly few douchebags
Haters like to say New Jersey is full of douchebags, but the numbers don’t back that up. A recent Estately study ranked the 100 largest cities from 1-100 based on each state’s general douchebaggery and New Jersey’s two largest cities ranked near the bottom of the list (Newark 65th / Jersey City 78th).
Lots of time to listen to podcasts
The mean travel time to work for New Jersey residents is 30.4 minutes, which is considerably higher than the national average of 25.5 minutes. On the upside, this probably means locals listen to more podcasts and books on tape so they’re more informed. Let’s go glass-is-half-full on this one.
New Jersey is steroids for your marriage
New Jersey has the lowest divorce rate in the country, with just 8.6% of the population having been divorced. There are a variety of reason why this is…
- People marry later in life in New Jersey
- People who have a higher education earn more money and typically divorce less frequently
- Wives are nothing like the “Real Housewives of New Jersey”
- People from New Jersey are fantastic lovers
New Jersey makes it rain for new teachers
The starting salary for a public school teacher in New Jersey is $48,631—the highest in the country. That’s considerably more than in Montana where it’s just $27,274.
It’s not prepared for a zombie attack
New Jersey is widely considered a state you don’t want to mess with so it’s surprising how ill-prepared it is for an attack by the living dead. The state ranked dead last in Estately’s zombie preparedness study, getting particularly low marks for laser tag skills (50th) and gun ownership (50th). On the other hand, maybe New Jersey is busy preparing for something far more dangerous than corpses moving in slow motion. Better think twice, aliens.
You can make lots of feline friends
Many people never get to have a pet cat. Some have landlords that don’t allow cats, while others live with someone who’s allergic to cats. In New Jersey, there are a large number of feral cats, particularly in Atlantic City where they live under the boardwalks along the seashore. You can go there and make friends with them. And if you’re really into the cats you can support Alley Cat Allies, which does lots of fine work on their behalf.
The Garden of Bruises State
Because New Jersey is one of the toughest states in the country it’s not surprising it’s home to five teams within the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. If you choose to take up roller derby you’ll have to choose between one of these five teams. Choose wisely.
Electoral preferences
New Jersey is considered a blue state overall, but it does have a large number of republicans. In the 2012 Presidential election, the state voted 58.4% for Democrat Barack Obama and 40.6% for Republican Mitt Romney. However, nearly half the congressional delegation is Republican, as is the current Governor.
New Jersey crushes its enemies
New Jersey was the center of much of the fighting during the Revolutionary War so it’s a place America’s enemies have a habit of getting beat in. Gen. George Washington wintered his troops twice in the state and famously crossed the Delaware River in 1776 to surprise the British army’s Hessian mercenaries with a little made-in-America beat down.
Sense of humor is most attractive quality
Conditions in New Jersey are ideal for producing funny people. The top of the state’s comedic iceberg includes Jason Alexander, Michael Ian Black, Lou Costello (of Abbot & Costello), Grace Helbig, Ernie Kovacs, Chelsea Handler, Jerry Lewis, Richard Lewis, Faizon Love, Marc Maron, Jay Mohr, Melissa Rauch, Jeffrey Ross, Michael Showalter, Jon Stewart, Flip Wilson, Robert Wuhl, and Bruce Vilanch.
New Jerseyans do it their way
Regardless of what other states might say, New Jersey doesn’t care. This is a state where people fill their front yard with giant giraffes and then list it for sale for over $3,000,000. New Jersey is a state where people take life head-on, they eat it up and spit it out, face it all and stand tall, and, like Frank Sinatra, they do it their way. If you live there you can do it your way as well.
Buy a home in New Jersey already
Obviously, it’s time to stop messing about and just settle down and buy a home in New Jersey. But where will find your New Jersey dream home? That’s easy. Estately.com makes it easy to find the home of your dreams.
