Is New Jersey Really One of The Best States to Live In? Um, Obviously

A recent WalletHub survey just confirmed what we’ve known all along: New Jersey is one of the best states in the country to live in.

WalletHub studied a host of things including job opportunities, income growth, quality of education, the cost of living (we know it’s up there but look what we have), housing costs (that too), ratings of hospitals, safety, personal preference, attractions, recreation areas, and even nice weather to see where families love to live. Looking at the 50 states based on 51 key indicators of livability, New Jersey placed No. 3 on their list. Our neighbors New York and Pennsylvania weren’t too far behind.

New Jersey placed in the following individual rankings:
Total score: 59.65 (compared to Massachusetts at 60.52 and Florida at 59.82 which came in at #1 and #2)
Safety: 1
Education & Health: 9
Quality of Life: 11
Economy: 25
Affordability: 48

We know we have among the best early education programs in the country plus a top-notch public school system (along with prestigious colleges and universities), charming downtowns, highly-rated restaurants, scenic areas for outdoor adventures, and, of course, all of the malls (and the mega American Dream).

New Jersey has the highest median household income in the country, at over $96,000. New Jersey residents have the second-lowest median debt, the equivalent of around 31 percent of what they earn in a year. The Garden State has done a good job of tackling poverty, too, with the fifth-lowest share of the population below the poverty line and the eighth-lowest food insecurity rate, according to the WalletHub study.

When it comes to health, New Jersey residents have the fourth-lowest premature death rate in the nation, the sixth-lowest obesity rate, and the 10th-best overall life expectancy. One reason for the low obesity rate is the fact the state has the sixth-most miles of trails and the fifth-most fitness centers per capita, which gives people plenty of opportunities to stay active, according to the study.

New Jersey has the sixth-lowest violent crime rate and ninth-lowest property crime rate, due in part to the fact that it has the highest number of law enforcement employees per capita in its municipalities, the study shows.

The Top 10 States to Live In, according to WalletHub:

1. Massachusetts
2. Florida
3. New Jersey
4. Utah
5. New Hampshire
6. Idaho
7. Pennsylvania
8. Wisconsin
9. New York
10. Wyoming

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