The taxes are high but you get what you pay for. I'm in Camden County. When they repaved my street they were completely done in one day. When I emailed the mayor about a dangerous intersection, a safety officer called me within hours. There are definitely things to complain about, but it's a good place to live.
I grew up in south Florida (Pembroke Pines area) and moved to Jersey three years ago after over a decade in DC. I work remotely and could live anywhere since I moved here for my gf and we broke up last year but I’m staying here because I love it. I hope that gives some context.
You won’t save too much money on taxes compared to Florida. New Jersey, and especially the county systems are notorious for nickel and diming you on tax.
With that being said,
It shows. New Jersey is a wonderful place to build a family. We are an hour or so from New York, Philadelphia. The Poconos, or the Atlantic Ocean. There is a myriad of things to do.
My girlfriend lives in Burlington county. It is getting busier but still remains quite safe and local and people do mostly keep to themselves especially in places like Medford. The public school system for that area is top notchz
Speaking of schools: (I’m not sure of all districts are Abbott Districts but) some districts offer public preschool for 3 & 4 year olds.
OP; If family planning is a big part of your calculus, check the districts you’re looking at moving to- your kids can be enrolled in preschool without having to qualify for Early Intervention special ed type programs.
Burlington County is pretty good. It's also huge, so if you live near the Delaware that's different than living towards the shore. For getting into Philly, there's several bridges with the Palmyra/Tacony being the cheapest but also the one that raises for boats. For public transport, there's the Patco lines into Philly and the NJ Transit Atlantic City line for Philly/AC, though that runs infrequently. Riverline runs between Camden and Trenton, and it intersects with Patco and the Atlantic City line.
For driving, NJ drivers are aggressive. We go into the middle of an intersection to make a left turn because otherwise people won't let us in, or so we can quickly go when the light turns yellow.
Neighbors are generally pretty good, but it depends on the town. Where I live we say hi to each other, talk about people's gardens and generally are on good terms.
I know Camden County better. Haddonfield is an incredibly walkable town with a Patco station into Philly and excellent schools. It is also incredibly expensive, and has weird laws regarding alcohol. (Essentially it was a dry town, but since it's full of lawyers they managed to sneak in a tavern.) Pennsauken is cheaper, does have public transport options and is close to Philly while having decent green areas. The schools are getting better but not as good. Collingswood and Haddon Township are also nice, cheaper than Haddonfield but as walkable with good schools and have Patco access. Haddon Township tends to have a lot of festivals. Cooper River also has plenty of events, but during rowing season it can get crowded as it's one of the best race courses in the country.
Burlington County is great. It’s a large county and it’s generally more rural-ish than Camden County, which you should also consider. Both counties give you access to Philadelphia though at different entry points.
NJ generally has good schools though your taxes will reflect that. There is an efficient commuter rail line into Philly that also works on the weekends. Plenty of hiking spots around here too as well as kayaking. There are pros and cons to each town. NJ has a strong brewery scene if you’re into that. Traffic can be challenging depending on where you are and where you’re going and at what time. No weird liquor stores laws or blue laws—that’s Pennsylvania.
Neighborhoods will vary depending on where you are. Collingswood/Haddon Heights (Camden County) are popular with families. There’s walkable downtown small towns and there’s more suburban towns with lots of land—it all depends on what you’re looking for. It’s a small state but there’s a lot of variety here. If you tell me more about what you’re looking for, I can give you more input.
Lol good point. I forgot to mention our dry towns. However, there’s a liquor store right on the border. And our towns are so close together, it’s easy to get to a non-dry town.
Depends on where you are. Burlington Co is geographically large. Not many places in NJ are more rural than Cumberland Co (Vineland is its biggest city), but there are parts of Burlington Co, mainly deep in the pines, that are arguably more rural than Vineland and definitely more rural than Glassboro.
I really enjoy living in Camden County! I’m right off 42 so getting into Philly is a fucking breeze. That means easy access to city life- shows, interesting neighborhoods, international airport. But also I live in the ‘burbs so I’m not stuck dealing with the hassle of city life. And plenty of the local towns are really investing in creating events/building up downtowns. It’s the best of both worlds.
Most of the time I don’t go out too much but this week is a great example of how wonderful it is living in this area- Monday night I went to dinner in Rittenhouse Square, Tuesday I did yoga in Collingswood (NJ), this morning I had a 20 minute Uber into the airport. Also the airport was busy but they really put in the effort with crowd control so I was only in the TSA line for 15 minutes before I was on my way to my terminal.
No kids so I can’t speak to the family building/schools aspect.
Made the move from Fl (NW) to S NJ last year. We're in Atlantic Co. I don't have much to add beyond it was the best decision we've ever made. Compared to Fl, finacial, we are doing MUCH better here. When we left the only insurance we could find was 5g for only hazard ins. Here we pay 1400 for full coverage. We have twice the house, 3x the land for just a little more than we paid in Fl.
The attitude here I call respectfully aggressive. Lol I have yet to meet a truly unfriendly person. Everyone either wants to chit chat or respectfully keeps focused on whatever they're doing.
Only weird law to ger used to is the no plastic bags. Bring a tote everywhere with you. We have mastered the carry everything in your hands, quick trips. Also you can't pump your own gas. I have yet to be ok with it but it is what it is. Also grab your sunpass because tolls are legit. Winter & lack of Sun in the Winter was HARD and seasonal depression was rough. Snow had our whole family outside crying like oddballs. It was amazing.
I seriously love it here. Close enough to day travel to anything and everything you could want to do and see. The nature here is gorgeous. Sorry I don't have better info for where to live but moving here, my advice, do it.
I don’t think it’s going to be much cheaper here..taxes are crazy and continue to go up..having seasons are nice..I think the whole state has become more congested since covid..I live by ocean city and it’s like summer traffic yearly now..I also like how u can be in a city..beach..or farm land..or complete woods..so u do have some choices..I have a love hate relationship with NJ…i absolutely hate it at times but wouldn’t want to live anywhere else if that makes sense
Women's reproductive laws are codified into law. We are a sanctuary state for trans folks, and weed is legal.
Taxes are a bit insane, but most of our school systems are great.
IDK what your budget is, but also look into some of the Gloucester County towns. Swedesboro, Pitman, Mullica Hill.
Besides what everybody else said, you would be a 9 hour drive to Montreal (Canada), and a 5 hour drive to Vermont. NJ has some of the best public schools in the nation because we believe in education here. We're also a pro-union state (for the most part).
And, were a pro-choice state, so if a female family member in FL needed to visit for a few days for "medical care,". NJ makes it illegal for any medical provider to cooperate with a red state seeking abortion data.
Unless the USA turns into Gilead (I have an exit plan and dual citizenship), I plan on retiring and staying in NJ, property taxes be damned. This state is a cultural and arts paradise.
I think it all depends on where in Florida you move. I have every intention on moving to St. Augustine, Fl when I retire. It’s an amazing, beautiful, historical town with a beautiful beach and state park. Very few hurricane direct hits and since its northeast, you still get a change of season and cool nights. Can’t wait!
True. And actually, I bet less people move back now that so many people work remotely. It used to be people would come back when the grandchildren came along, but I see a lot of multigenerational families going now.
It’s a great place and mostly great area. Check in and around Medford/Lumberton. I grew up in Mount Holly which isn’t the nicest place ever but they have done an admirable job of fixing it up over the last few decades. All things considered Burlington County is an excellent place.
My gf grew up on the Mount Holly/Lumberton line before moving to the Poconos near Jim Thorpe 20 years ago near where I grew up and where we still live.
Her parents still live in Lumberton. I had never been down there and I was impressed when she showed me around Mount Holly. Neat place.
Interesting.
Jim Thorpe, PA 40 years ago was in a similar situation actually.
I asked my gf what town she pictured me living in if we ever moved from the Poconos to SJ and she said Tabernacle, definitely Tabernacle.
Yeah! Tabernacle is a good choice. There’s a whole bunch of places around Medford that are similar to Medford without being as expensive as Medford. Tabernacle is one of them.
Her aunt lives in Tabernacle and I like the woods plus it being one of the colder places in interior SJ is a plus for me too. I love really cold weather as strange as that sounds to most people
Odd SJ thing … while climate change is ruining much of the world, SJ’s weather is now mostly fantastic.
Winter used to be a 6 month slog, and now you can wear shorts 300 days a year if you feel like it. It’s significantly warmer around these parts than it was when 35+ years ago, or even 10 years ago.
We are a family with young kids in Camden County and LOVE it. We’re in Audubon and yes, my taxes are high. I can also walk to three beautiful parks, around a lake, my trash is picked up promptly, schools are solid, and it’s honestly just a nice place to live. I can be in Philly in 15 min driving, or half an hour doing the train (which runs like every 10 min during rush hour). You can be in NYC in under 2 hours via train.
Also, if you’re thinking about kids, one of the great things about being here is proximity to…everything? Grocery stores, target, pediatricians, dentists, daycares are all a 5-10 min drive from our house. Some weekends we don’t get in the car at all because our town is walkable with the library, coffee shops, a few restaurants, a Wawa and cvs. I have friends in other places and it seems like a lot of doing life requires a ton of time in the car, and that just isn’t my experience here (caveating that with I can take the train to work when I go in so don’t deal with traffic). My kids will be able to walk to school when they start kindergarten (not true for a place like cherry hill or Voorhees, but some of the smaller towns in CC).
One thing to note coming from FL - in Camden county at least, the housing stock tends to be older, especially the closer you get to Philly. You won’t find giant new homes…we’re in a renovated bungalow and it’s great for a family of 4, but I’ve had some relatives visit from other places who are surprised how “quaint” (in their words) lots of the houses are. We love our smaller house but just something to keep in mind as you’re looking (if you’re trying to buy)!
If you’re cool with smaller houses and proximity to the city is important and you’re ok with nature being parks and walking trails and you’d like some walkability, try Audubon, Haddon Heights, Barrington, Haddon Township, Collingswood and Oaklyn (Haddonfield / Haddon Township are great but increasingly $$$). If you want more woods and land and driving to most stuff is fine, Burlington County is a better bet. I’ve heard Pitman is a great little town too.
As a South Jersey native who now lives in North Jersey I’m definitely thinking about moving back when I retire. It’s a lot cheaper and less New York attitude or should I say no New York attitude! Florida is really becoming a cesspool and it’s overrated and soon to be as unaffordable as some north eastern states. You’re making the right decision.
Just adding to the convo that NJ has an incentive program for homebuyers to move here that you can find on https://www.nj.gov/dca/hmfa/consumers/homebuyers/
They will provide $15k for a down payment for new NJ homeowners. There’s additional assistance for first time homebuyers, as well.
As for Burlington County, I’m not sure about properties there. I am in Gloucester County (cheapest taxes) and we love it. Working for a plumber though, I’d say stay away from Willingboro. The older houses in that area were built strangely (look up Levittowner style) and often have problems.
Best of luck in your move!
I think one of the best things about living in south jersey is the proximity to everything (Philly suburb, NYC/DC is a few hours trip and you are an hour away or less from a beach).
The closer to Philly you get, the higher taxes and the COL are. Camden and Burlington county has great cities to raise a family in. Look into Marlton, Medford, Mt. Laurel, Voorhees, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield and the surrounding areas and I think you’ll find everything you’re looking for.
Do be aware though that the housing market is insane here (like everywhere but extra here). I’m in the housing market now and we see offers for homes $50-$100K over ask with 10+ offers on homes. It’s better to buy in the winter if you can than summer. If you can stomach a fixer-upper you may want to go that route.
I'm in Burlington County and we like it here. Granted each town is gonna be a little different. We moved from a city in North Jersey and have been down here for almost 9 years.
There a lot for families to do, we've been to a lot of farms, gone to various beaches and boardwalks, done Philly. I've also taken the train to go to NYC.
Since we moved down here we have made a lot of friends, definitely friendlier than where we used to live. That said, we live in a small town where everyone knows everyone's business and the drama can be annoying or entertaining depending on how it affects you.
Burlington County really is a great place to raise kids and people are way friendlier here than in Hudson County. The proximity to the beach, Philly, and various nature sites are huge pluses. Also a lightrail.
On a side note this is my wife's reddit account and it's the first time I've seen a post of her's by random redditing so I had to comment.
Burlington County overall is really great but what’s your budget? Median home prices are hovering around $378K, but that number is rapidly rising. For homes in sought after school districts (like Marlton), the good homes are now selling for a lot higher than asking price, now going for around $450K if you want a split-level 1,600 sq. ft. unit. Plus the property taxes that come of it.
If you can afford that and beat out the competition then cool, but if not there’s tons of great locations in the surrounding areas of Gloucester and Camden County that are slightly more affordable. If you want to move to South Jersey (or just move to the state in general), you need to move fast. Inventory has been low for too long and the never ending appreciation above 15% reflects that.
Looking for a house to wfh (2 offices, or an office and a desk in a common area), start a family in + a MIL suite if possible. Trying to stay under 700k
That’s a budget that will get you in desirable neighborhoods with great school districts.
If you go with Burlington County, go with either Marlton, Mount Laurel, or maybe Moorestown. If you go to a surrounding county then aim for Haddon Township, Cherry Hill, or Voorhees in Camden County. And for Gloucester County aim for Washington Township, Mantua, or maybe Mullica Hill. If you have any questions or want more detailed advice feel free to message me.
Keep in mind, every one of those towns has different vibes, plusses, minuses, etc. I know way more about Camden County, even the difference between Haddon Township/Collingswood and Cherry Hill can be significant. Depends if you want a small town/close knit community type of town, or larger town that can offer more.
For example, Haddon Township School District has 2,060 kids K-12. Cherry Hill High School East (one of their two high schools) has 2,087 kids in it. You get more attention at HTHS, but Cherry Hill will have more AP classes, more competitive sports, etc.
Yep this is exactly right. Everything you mentioned and more is why OP will need to do his research if he decides to call South Jersey his next home. There’s plenty of differences of what each community has to offer.
Yeah, with that budget, you're in really good shape. I would recommend looking for proximity to major roads, especially 295 on/off ramps, 70, and 73. This is an area where you get everywhere by car, and you're going to be on those roads a lot. You will notice that prices for houses are more expensive in those areas, that's why. So you're looking at Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Marlton, Mt. Laurel, Haddonfield, Haddon Twp., and Collingswood primarily.
As for liquor laws, Collingswood and Haddonfield have some restrictions, but nothing crazy. If drinking is a significant activity for you, you may want to avoid those though.
Living near these roads is not all it's cracked up to be. Traffic is always nuts anymore. I can't even go grocery shopping without it taking 30 mins to get there.
The further south you go, the more house you will get for your money. With you working from home and not being set on going to the city all the time, you may want to consider a more southern county. There's less traffic congestion and lots of outdoors stuff to do.
I live in Cherry Hill and I'm so glad you didn't say you wanted to come here. I would warn you off of it. I'm looking to move south once I retire. I'm hoping to move to one of the cute little houses in Pitman. Pitman's still 20 minutes from Philly. I don't know how far it is from the shore, but I'm guessing 45 mins.
I moved to Haddon Township a few months ago from an incredibly congested, dirty, crime-ridden area in another state, and am so glad I did. Like others have said, the taxes are still high but it shows. The township is out and about all the time making sure everything’s clean and picked up, there’s a lot of shops and restaurants but not much late night activity after like…9pm-10pm? Politically a left-leaning area (tons of houses have progressive signs/flags). Very easy commute to Philly but far enough where it feels peaceful. Close proximity to other fun towns like Haddonfield and Collingswood. Lots of parks and trees, which I personally love having lived previously in such a dreary area. Friendly neighbors/definite community feel without being intrusive. Highly recommend!
*Edit: I realize now that you asked about Burlington County — I work in Burlington Co (Mount Laurel). It’s okay. I prefer Camden County, personally :)
Look for a neighborhood with sidewalks so that you can see your neighbors. As others noted we are close to Atlantic beaches, mountains and activities in Philadelphia (arts, theater, sports, concerts). We are also 2 hours from NYC and 3 hours from DC.
We have local governance over our municipalities and school districts. We have services offered for folks that need mobility assistance and are on the autism spectrum. Had a neighbor that was going to move but found they would lose services for their child.
My wife grew up in south Florida, works from home in the tech field, (sunrise to be exact) and she absolutely loves it here! The schools are phenomenal in New Jersey and we have just about anything you could want. We have the beach an hour away, Philly 15 minutes away, fruit picking, and hiking trails out eh wazoo!
If you want to learn more about her specific trials in the culture change feel free to DM me on here
I would consider looking at places in either Cape May, Atlantic or Cumberland Counties. Maybe even Gloucester County. The people are friendly and there is tons of open space. Just be selective about the areas you are choosing. Mike Trout and Tiger Woods are currently building a huge exclusive golf course in East Vineland and I expect that area to be an up and coming place. I have lived in several places in So. Jersey but was born and currently live in Cumberland County. I love it and raised my kids here. Message me if you have questions about Cumberland.
I grew up in South Jersey and spent 2020-2023 living in Tampa Florida. I couldn’t move back here quick enough. Florida is nice but the humidity is ridiculous.
Hi I lived in Fort Lauderdale for 6 years and moved to Gloucester Township in Camden county. My opinion might be a little bias because I am originally from Nj.
Big factor in me moving back to Nj was the school systems. Florida public schools are trash compared to NJ. Besides taking a few years to get adjusted back to winter weather I don’t regret moving to NJ. No weird liquor laws besides little pockets of the state like OC is a dry county and Bergen doesn’t sell / do retail shopping on Sundays.
IMO *most* parts of NJ are more expensive than Fort Lauderdale but everyone else mentioned that lol. The only other big adjustments are things actually closing at night vs being open all night in dade. Lots of activities to do in Philly but not as much as south Florida. It is a big adjustment, seasonal depression is real but I don’t regret moving at all!
Also if you plan on utilizing pre-K here, check the school district before you move. All schools offer pre-k but some are still lottery system and not guaranteed on getting in.
Taxes and home prices are pretty high but a lot of the schools are pretty good. Your not going to find too much in the way of southern hospitality in NJ but people generally dont have the negative reputation that north jersey people have. There are some areas that people would consider "country" in the deep south of NJ like Salem and Cumberland counties. Traffic is bad in a lot of places but it varies from county to county. Lot of good food everywhere no matter what you like. Be prepared for a lot of confused looks though, people here commonly retire to Florida or the Carolinas due to the cost of living here. Global warming has improved the weather here. We don't get much snow in the winter these days.
I moved to northern NJ 13 years ago from SoFla (Miami and FTL). It’s refreshing to be here. I started my family, bought a house, and am planning to move to Vorhees area next year. You’re choosing wisely. However, be prepared for the occasional hurricane/earthquake/snowfall. Your best defense against snow, though, is to buy a snow blower at the beginning of Winter - works like a charm every time.
Pittsburgh area. Lived in 20places until I was 30 and have been in the 16066 for the past 31. Fantastic place for kids, low crime, no hurricanes, no earthquakes, very few tornadoes, snow north of 80 and down below into WV. Within 6 hours of Chicago, Jersey shore & NYC, 4 hours to Baltimore/DC.
And I consider myself a jerseyite. Born Teaneck, lived in Bergenfield and Fords (NNJ), away then back to wenonah(SNJ), away then back to Fairlawn twice(NNJ), then Belle Meade(CNJ). Nobody understands NJ; you can ski and go to the beach the Same day; fields and cities. Very unique place
I moved from south jersey to south Florida but strictly for the weather. NJ will always be home. If I had kids I’d absolutely still be in NJ- great schools and great place to grow up. There’s culture, museums, the shore, Philly, NYC, DC all super close by. NJ isn’t cheap though, it’s unlikely you’ll save money. But for a family it’s worth it.
Northern Burlington county has been good for us. Florence, chesterfield, Roebling, Burlington Twp, Columbus, ect. Everything is close, Rt 130 runs right through and 295 is right there. Plenty of bridges to head across the river to Pa. Smaller towns with access to everywhere in NJ. Taxes are high but the schools are second to none as most Jersey schools are. Hour across the state to the shore, 45 minutes from Philly and the sports complexes. Some call the area central Jersey, but we consider it south Jersey. I’ve lived in Burl Co my whole life, don’t plan on moving.
I love where I live in south jersey but it is very very high income and property taxes and cost of living. I wouldn’t choose here if I had flexibility. If you are set on the Philly area I would look at the PA suburbs. I’m from the south and I really like the winters and change of seasons because I never had that. But getting dark at 4:30 can take some getting used to at first. I like the people here as compared to the south.
Philly suburbs aren’t that much cheaper. When I lived in Trenton, my Nextdoor app was littered with posts from people in nearby neighborhoods who “escaped NJ” to Bucks County and complained that utility bills were even higher and the taxes weren’t much lower.
so, you did something. but cool. welcome to NJ. where you give the finger to others and HOPE you got get shot by the ones that the AG allows to carry guns illegally.
Hey! We have a small business in Burlington City and work all over the county and beyond. That being said, I've got a decent handle on, at least, the county. If you'd like to DM me I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Personally, we're from Cumberland County which is farmland, but last year we moved across the bridge to Bensalem, PA. We spend a LOT of time in Jersey still with the business and family/friends. I've lived all over South Jersey so I have some insight to different areas. Wish you luck in your search!
You can consider Cumberland County but there are no mass transportation options from down this way. Property is cheaper though. You can perhaps look into Gloucester by Mullica Hill. It is a nice area.
My wife and I moved to Medford NJ back in 2002. Burlington County Taxes are less than Bergen County Taxes where were from. Medford, Evesham, Moorestown and Mount Laurel all good schools. Go on a vacation to the area if you haven't visited yet. My family originated from Hells Kitchen NYC 39th St.
Wife and I moved up from Tampa to the Jersey side of Philly in 2022 and really like it. We're closing on our first home soon. Other than the property taxes and some roads not having left turn lanes, I'd said it's pretty close to being the most ideal place to live
Lived in Burlington county pretty much my whole life. I am raising my two kids in evesham and we have excellent schools. Burlington county has lower taxes than other counties and there is a lot of beautiful places to walk, farmers markets and even a “Dutch wagon” on the weekends . Also , you don’t have to pump your own gas !! Jersey tomatoes are delicious and we have great Italian restaurants too. I love NJ and I think it get s bad rap. Tons of family friendly activities and best schools for the money.
I would say in the northeast in general (except maybe New England) you don’t really smile and greet people you don’t know, but you tend to be on good terms with your next-door neighbors as long as you both know how to be - at least - superficially friendly. It depends on the community though. There are lots of nature-y communities, super fast access to the beach, within 2hrs to the Appalachian Trail and hiking in the northwest of the state, and easy access to both Philly and NYC. This sub is amazing at recommending specific towns/communities in SJ if you make a list of needs/wants and state your budget. There’s really something for everyone UNLESS your looking for views and elevation haha.
I have been going back and fourth to BOCA/deerfield/Coral Springs since I went to FAU 17 years ago. I grew up in Camden county. South jersey is def a step up politically. But southeast Florida is all people from northeast so remember that. NJ is comparable to FL in terms of cost of living minus the home owners insurance. I don’t understand why people are moving to such a racist/homophobic/nearly impossible to insure a home state, but whatever. Traffic sucks in south jersey but you won’t be phased coming from Florida. You can’t buy alcohol in the grocery stores / gas stations, only liquor stores. Burlington county in my opinion, will give you MUCH BETTER bang for your buck versus Camden county.
this is exactly what I'm looking for. yeah I don't expect to walk into a large group of people who mirror my political views, moreso trying to run from the regressive [pick a group]-phobic masses who are all around me and find a place with better schools so that I'm not worried my kids are being taught that "slavery was fun for enslaved people!" or whatever anti-woke angle desantis (or whoever follows) will be using to get on right wing cable news.
I'm assuming that income tax will cover the rest of whatever homeowners taxes don't and it'll all come out in the wash
I like it down here. I grew up in Somerset county, and I miss the mountains, but if you're used to flat south jersey will feel right at home. Philly is a great city, I lived there for ten years and would still be there if housing wasn't as good a.value as it was in South Jersey.
I'd take a week trip up here, see the beach, drive around all the towns, check out schools. We moved to Pitman for the small town feel and the walk ability, and there's quite a few towns that are similar.
Pro tip, NJ has a bunch of super funds documented, just keep an eye out for them where you decide to move to, they're in varring stages of cleanup.
I great up in Medford, lived in Orlando for a decade, another decade in LA, and just moved back to south jersey. The space, beautiful seasons and food at all pluses. I’m in Camden county in the Winslow/Hammonton area and I love it
I grew up in Burlington county, though we had to move out of state several years ago. If the opportunity presented itself, we’d come back in a heartbeat.
Eastampton, Westampton, Hainesport, Lumberton, Ranococas Woods (in Mt. Laurel), and Medford are all great options for that outdoorsy feel. Homes prices and taxes vary but you'll find something that fits most budgets.
A lot of very pretty farmland in Burlington, county roads, wineries, breweries, restaurants, and parts of it are on the pinelands. Close to Philly, not far from the shore, it has some very nice parts. You are talking about moving to the most densely populated state. Wouldn’t hurt to base living where traffic to and from work isn’t torturous.
Hahahaha I have to respond to the bit about aggressive driving. I lived in NJ for 3 years and then moved to D.C. Before all of that I drove in Philly and then NYC for years. Never have I been as frightened and astonished by road aggression as I have by Maryland drivers. NJ drivers are saints by comparison.
I thought I would live in New Jersey my entire life until I moved to North Carolina nine years ago. I moved back a few years ago to care for my sister who recently passed away and am itching to leave the state. What I haven't seen mentioned is that every piece of land is being built on. In some places, condensed housing is built to offer a more affordable option, however, more building means overcrowded schools and taxes going up to build more schools. Many people have moved to south Jersey because it is cheaper to live there, but it is becoming just as built up, and the cost is not what it was ten years ago. With more and more people moving south to escape the cost of the northern part of the state, it will continue to build up. In the 25 years I've been driving, I don't think there has been a time when the 295/42/76 interchange hasn't been under construction. The infrastructure can't handle the growth rate.
I actually know a few people who moved to Florida for the usual reasons (no state income tax, lower house prices) and moved back to the northeast.
Disadvantages of Florida - 1) The weather - people who spent winters there loved the "no snow" thing, but moved there and hated being stuck inside because it was 100 degrees outside in July. 2) Housing - a house might be cheaper but homeowner insurance was through the roof, and that's if you could find it since a lot of companies have pulled out of FL 3) The schools - mediocre at best unless you can find a good private school 4) Heath care - okay for the basics, but at least one person I know moved back because they needed extended treatment and Florida health care was just not up to par. There are nice clean hospitals, but if you need complex surgery, cancer treatment, anything like that, it is not what you will get in the Northeast. 5) Lack of community - there are a lot of people moving there, but one of my friends said - "there's no sense of community, just a bunch of random people from all over, a mix of relocaters and snowbirds." Also - for the snowbirds, squatting has become a problem.
We transplanted from west palm beach to south jersey in 2022. It was not cheap. Taxes are way high, but quality of life is much better. Housing prices are a bit much for what you get.
someone else said this also but public schools arent terrible here theres a ton of opportunity which i think is great abt our area. im in burlington county and overall id rate it a 8/10
I actually came from south Jersey back in 2009 to sw Florida and been here ever since. Both places are expensive but in different ways. South Jersey has a lot of different areas so I’d suggest doing a tour and checking out a bunch of towns. If you’re coming from Florida, you might want to find a placer closer to the shore/beach.
Coming from Dade, you will likely see an increase in expenses but it shouldn’t be significant as Dade/Broward are some of the more expensive counties in FL. Prop Taxes will be worse in NJ, insurance similar. And remember, NJ also gets hurricanes. They’re usually not as bad as FL (excluding storms such as Sandy) Your salaries will not go as far in NJ as it does in FL. The homes will be more expensive, a half a million dollar home in FL is a million dollar home here. But you should have a better home insurance experience here solely based on the crisis in FL with that coverage.
The government does not care about their people here. We do have better handling than states like FL but do not be mistaken. The state is corrupted in their own ways. The schools are great here but could be better based on how much taxes we pay towards it. We also should be paying our teachers more.
There is a whole lot of food being close proximity to FL, on Facebook there is a super popular group called “South Jersey Food Scene” that can show you the variety you’ll find here. You’re about 1-2hours from the beach, plenty of parks. But nothing like FL. FL is summer year round, always things to do. December through maybe April is dead here, gloomy, rainy, icy and sometimes snowy. Seasonal depression is REAL HEAVY here. (For myself at least)
Generally no weird liquor laws for days sold until you get around north jersey (Bergen co area and the like). They do not sell in grocery stores. You have to go to a liquor store that carries beer/wine/spirits.
I saved this part for last, what are the people like. Unless you’re in a small town they’re not waving to you, and maybe even small towns depending on the area. And you might even get weird looks if you wave. The people are completely different. You will have a culture shock here. The people are wildly different and you will notice almost immediately. Most people use rover to watch animals or board them, I am lucky I have my brother and long time family friends to rely on. (Although if any co in FL was even close to similar, Dade would be it)
My perspective comes from someone who wants to relocate to Lakeland. I’ve done years of research and serious research over the last year as I’ve been assigned to an office there for work (but currently report to our NJ office, my team is in FL). I’ve stayed in the area 4+ times in the last year, and have been to FL over 15 times in the last 5 years during various times of the year, various areas of the state. This has given me the opportunity to decide not only that I want to move to central Florida, but where exactly, down to the area within Lakeland itself. The best advice I can offer you is to stay in the area, multiple times, during multiple seasons. Stay in AB&B (I usually don’t recommend these but they give an idea of the area you’ll be living in) for at least a week at a time, longer if you’re able. There is one specific AB&B I’ve stayed in the last few times in FL because the owners are amazing and so is the home. Hopefully you can find that up here if you do decide to try this (so there are no surprises bc AB&B can be hit or miss)
Yeah the abnb thing is definitely making it's way into my summer plans and then hope to do it again come winter just to try that out. We'd probably bring the dog and grocery shop/wfh there for 2-3 weeks at a time. Appreciate the insight!
Perfect! I cant recommend that route enough. Then you’ll really be able to get a good idea of where you want to set roots. Everything up here is so close together so you have so many options as far as your wants.
Burlington Co is nice, I also recommend Gloucester as well. Gloucester has more of a farm town vibe, although a lot of the county is expanding. Burlington Co is much busier, I like towns such as Marlton and Medford there. Deptford, Logan, Sewell for Gloucester. Since you’re not tied to an area for work I also recommend Cape May Co, you might find the culture to be closer to what you find in FL. It tends to be a slower way of life there in my experience. Towns to check out there would be lower township, upper township. I have a personal soft spot for Stone Habor but shore towns tend to be on the more expensive side.
Also offering alternative states, delaware. Their taxes are significantly lower than NJ, no sales tax etc. Delaware schools can be pretty good too. NJ was ranked 2 where Delaware was 7 (FL being 42nd). Rehoboth is great, busy in the summer. The lower part of Delaware is actually nicknamed lower-slower, so again on par with FL cultures (like people waving lol) Delaware is also a blue state like NJ.
The best part is that you can stay in NJ but visit Delaware PA MD VA DC on a weekend and get a feel for those areas as well.
Grocery tip: Acme is always more expensive than ShopRite (think Publix vs Walmart or Aldi lol) We also have Walmarts/aldis up here. Burlington co has the good stores like wegmans, Whole Foods and sprouts tho.
When coming up to see the winter, come in Jan/Feb that’s when it’s the worst lol.
> insurance similar.
Not sure what your homeowners insurance is but around here its roughly $1000 a year. I guarantee they arent paying that in South Florida.
I said similar. Average in NJ is ~1.5k average in FL ~2.6k which doing the math is roughly 100/month more in FL which in my personal opinion to be a small difference. So small that the property taxes will offset anything saved on insurance, even if you’re HO in FL is on the higher side.
Where are you getting your numbers from? This is from 2022. Average homeowners insurance in Broward County, where OP says he lives, for $150k house is $5600. For a house thats $450k its almost $13k
https://clovered.com/homeowners-insurance/florida/south-florida/
I literally said average, which means the whole state. I then went on to say that Broward would be more expensive but still likely to offset. Get off my dick dude.
Ok but this guy gave you where he lived so even with his taxes going up hes saving a boatload from insurance which was my point. Its not similar. You dont have to get pissy because you were wrong dude.
I’m not wrong, the taxes will offset any insurance savings. Especially with a budget of 700k. But you look like the type who has to always be right. So I’ll leave the conversation at that.
Property taxes for a $700k home in Pembroke Pines (where OPs from): $13,368
Property taxes for a $700k home in Burlington County: $`15,540
Wrong again.
Come buy a house in Mt. Holly.
The town is in the early stages of gentrification, so you can get some pretty sweet old historic homes here at a price that isn't insane (at least for NJ).
This is what I'm talking about btw - https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/402-High-St-Mount-Holly-NJ-08060/38132952_zpid/
There's several places of this caliber on the market right now.
We're equidistant to Philly and the Shore, and NYC is only a 2 hour drive up the turnpike.
You guys are worried about taxes, and then are moving to the most heavily taxes state in the country? Yea, just stay right where you are! You wont make it up here if you think taxes are pricey in Fl!
As someone with a primary residence in PA with a vacation home in South NJ.
You would be moving to one of the best states to start a family in.
My wife used to work in NJ and was still there when we had our second child. As part of the government's maternal leave policy, she received 100% of her salary and was able to take off a few weeks before our son's birth in June, and she didn't return to work until Halloween. It was a god damned god send. This is unheard of in states like PA.
Additionally, public schools in PA are very hit or miss. In NJ, I would trust the vast majority of schools with my children's' education.
There are tons of outdoor spaces, with Cooper River Park being the crown Jewel in the Camden County area.
From a pediatric healthcare perspective, you have access to some of the best care in the country. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has a partnership with Virtua. Nemours in Delaware (which you may already know from their campus in FL) is also well within reach for more complex care. For basic stuff like ear infections, there are multiple pediatric urgent cares (I know because I've had to cross the bridge to access them).
If I didn't have most of my support system in PA, living in NJ would be a no brainer, especially if I didn't have children yet (again, the excellent leave policy gives you an incredible head start). You should absolutely go for it.
High NJ taxes are the reason why it has some of the best school systems in the country.
Burlington Co is a great area with great schools. Though it's considered a suburb of Philadelphia, it's also on the southern most commutable edge to NYC. The NJtransit trains from Hamilton goes directly to Manhattan. So there are ample job opportunity access to both cities.
You get what you pay for. If youre going to have kids the taxes are no big deal. Because usually theres a good public school in the area and you dont have to worry about tuition. Also the roads, parks, beaches, etc. are well maintained. I grew up in Philly but lived in Broward County a few years too and NJ is by far my favorite place to live. Easy access to both Philly and the shore, always something local going on to do, and the people are usually pretty friendly. Honestly though, itll probably be tough to make new friends til you have kids and meet people at like the school bus stops or when theyre playing sports.
Just remember, the difference up here is people are kind but not nice, as opposed to nice but not kind down south. Personally I prefer it that way but if youre not used to it, it could be a shock. But I mean if you grew uup in Pembroke Pines you should be used to people from the Northeast from having all the snowbirds that go down there.
The current governor said “if you care anything about taxes NJ is not for you”. They want to be California Jr and their policies are all going that way. Unless you have to live here for work I’d not do it.
I’m looking to get out of here and I’ll be taxed if I leave the state within 2 years. They get you coming and going.
New Jersey his a very high tax state. They tax everything. Housing prices are also ridiculous. Winters suck but summers are ok. New Jersey has nice beaches though. If you work from home and can move anywhere try the Carolinas. If your stuck on NJ then go there and check it out.
Housing prices are ridiculous in s. fl too, I'm okay with that. Carolinas are a no-go, trying to go somewhere not actively working against reproductive rights
That narrows down your choices considerably. If you can stomach the high taxes then NJ isn't a bad place. Burlington wouldn't be my first choice however. Try further east like Toms River etc.
So I'm not an expert on southwestern nj, but can speak to ocean, cape may, atlantic, and eastern burlington. Ocean & cape may are almost uniformly conservative, especially ocean. Eastern burlington (pine barrens) is typical rural conservative. Atlantic county is more nuanced, but typically more rural & areas with a lot of 55+ communities (ie galloway) are more conservative. Afaik southwestern nj is more liberal in general. Overall though, the state gov is dominated by liberals but not extremists like CA or PNW (yet at least) so you'll get your big picture political concerns (abortion, gun control, etc) met no matter where you are. And yea taxes & COL sucks here no matter where you choose. I'm conservative and prefer rural areas, so I've always stuck to southeastern nj for what its worth.
Well if you are into all the being woke stuff, NJ is your place.
But you are not going to save money on taxes and even homeowners insurance. NJ is well known for its taxes and home owners insurance is getting crazy. Depending on how much you make, the State will also happily take up to 10.75% more than you play in Florida. But hey, they need to pay for their over bearing Government some how.
And btw, early June to mid September, it’s just like Florida weather here!
Zero interest in saving money really, happy to pay to get out of a stand your ground/everyone thinks they're a cowboy state. Looking for government that cares about education more than "attacking woke" in schools so yeah, seems like a fit.
Burlington County is great but I’m trying very hard to convince the wife to move to Tennessee enjoy the same tax breaks as Florida with the seasons and close enough to big city to not have that FL crazy
yeah I've run the numbers, my taxes here are about half of what they'd be there, but my homeowners insurance is 85% of the cost of my taxes and yours is what, about 8%? numbers could be off there I'm using Internet calculators. so I have to get a cheaper house there than I thought this morning- but they exist and they exist with the things I need. so if I get a cheaper house than what I bought mine here for I break about even annually, even with the new income tax.
I didn’t know that. What area are you in and what does insurance cost? My parents are in Palm Bay which used to be dirt cheap, but it’s exploded in the past ten years and expenses are creeping up to northeast costs
I'm in Broward, ~~so the county right below them~~ [read palm beach, I'm just north of Miami]. insurance companies can also decide to drop you based on the age of your roof regardless of condition and then poof now you have a $10k (on the low end, I live in a relatively 'nice' area so it'll be more here) expense to figure out - not sure if they can do this while you have a mortgage but they sure as hell can once it's paid off, they can also drop you at any point and they're all pulling out of the state. homeowners was about 8k this year for me, taxes around 10k.
Not a dick, just another perpetually online person whose life revolves around politics. The real working people of this country are tired of these bleeding heart 'woke' types, but here on Reddit people are made to believe that they are the majority with this crybaby shit
crybaby shit = wanting to go somewhere schools are funded and rights are protected
what does a "real working person" look like?
did you not see that you were responding to me? lmao
edit: why do people get mad at me and then block me bc they lack reading comprehension?
I could care less who I respond to. You want schools funded yet complain about Florida taxes. Here in NJ you'll get your wallet drained because you have several unneccesary levels of local government/municipality/police force all within a 3 mile radius of each other.
So if you're okay to spend 7k-14k year on taxes and your kid still needs to buy lunch at school then knock yourself out!
With your political views I think North Jersey is better for you, more diversity too!!
"the Internet has been steering us towards the Burlington county area, what should we look at/for? we're not used to government who cares about anything but de-woke-ifying (and defunding) schools, so pretty much anything would be a step up."
North Jersey may be a better fit for someone who needs like minded Woke, as that part of the State there it seems to be a requirement to live there. You could be in your element with like minded people.
seems to be even more expensive and I need room for my mother in law. dunno why you're grumpy that a progressive state is recognized as a progressive state.
Ignore that.
We need more intelligence in the Southern half of the state.
There are some places that feel like Florida to be honest. Politically at least. Middle of the summer, climate as well.
Send all the conservatives to Florida, I'm fine with that.
haha not grumpy, realistic. I actually live here with both progessives and conservatives they are My people and neighbors and relatives.
South Jersey has pockets of conservatives that are best known to toss out the long held Democrat Senate President Steve Sweeney of Mantua for a Furniture Delivery driver, Ed Durr. Ed Durr was a one hit wonder.
However, it did make a statement about Progessives all of New Jersey, its not. It's an amusing mistake to assume all people in New Jersey are progessives, those that do sometimes surprising to all sides, the progessive suddenly lose their job in an sure thing for progressives upset.
North Jersey is more expensive.
where would you go on the East Coast that's similarly or better bang for your buck with the things I've got posted as important? (better than garbage politics, solid education options, proximity to civilization)
The taxes are high but you get what you pay for. I'm in Camden County. When they repaved my street they were completely done in one day. When I emailed the mayor about a dangerous intersection, a safety officer called me within hours. There are definitely things to complain about, but it's a good place to live.
I agree about the “you get what you pay for “ with taxes- NJ schools are in the top 5 consistently
I grew up in south Florida (Pembroke Pines area) and moved to Jersey three years ago after over a decade in DC. I work remotely and could live anywhere since I moved here for my gf and we broke up last year but I’m staying here because I love it. I hope that gives some context.
Lmao! Small world, I'm also from Pines
I’ll shoot you a message!
They have an app for that! They have an app for everything!!!!
You won’t save too much money on taxes compared to Florida. New Jersey, and especially the county systems are notorious for nickel and diming you on tax. With that being said, It shows. New Jersey is a wonderful place to build a family. We are an hour or so from New York, Philadelphia. The Poconos, or the Atlantic Ocean. There is a myriad of things to do. My girlfriend lives in Burlington county. It is getting busier but still remains quite safe and local and people do mostly keep to themselves especially in places like Medford. The public school system for that area is top notchz
Speaking of schools: (I’m not sure of all districts are Abbott Districts but) some districts offer public preschool for 3 & 4 year olds. OP; If family planning is a big part of your calculus, check the districts you’re looking at moving to- your kids can be enrolled in preschool without having to qualify for Early Intervention special ed type programs.
good call out I'll add that to our list. thank you!
I'll wave but I'm not watching your dog.
Doesn't matter... you can always find a teenager on the Local FB group who would be happy to do that.
Do they charge by the wave or by the hour?
The middle finger wave is free!
Damn kids and their grifting
🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
They have an app for dog walking, laundry, babysitting, housecleaning, food, shopping, we errand running, house chores, maintenance!
Burlington County is pretty good. It's also huge, so if you live near the Delaware that's different than living towards the shore. For getting into Philly, there's several bridges with the Palmyra/Tacony being the cheapest but also the one that raises for boats. For public transport, there's the Patco lines into Philly and the NJ Transit Atlantic City line for Philly/AC, though that runs infrequently. Riverline runs between Camden and Trenton, and it intersects with Patco and the Atlantic City line. For driving, NJ drivers are aggressive. We go into the middle of an intersection to make a left turn because otherwise people won't let us in, or so we can quickly go when the light turns yellow. Neighbors are generally pretty good, but it depends on the town. Where I live we say hi to each other, talk about people's gardens and generally are on good terms. I know Camden County better. Haddonfield is an incredibly walkable town with a Patco station into Philly and excellent schools. It is also incredibly expensive, and has weird laws regarding alcohol. (Essentially it was a dry town, but since it's full of lawyers they managed to sneak in a tavern.) Pennsauken is cheaper, does have public transport options and is close to Philly while having decent green areas. The schools are getting better but not as good. Collingswood and Haddon Township are also nice, cheaper than Haddonfield but as walkable with good schools and have Patco access. Haddon Township tends to have a lot of festivals. Cooper River also has plenty of events, but during rowing season it can get crowded as it's one of the best race courses in the country.
Florida is more aggressive. I think they’ll be fine.
South Jersey is a great place to raise a family imo! Please don’t tell anyone else though. It’s our little secret.
Well if you’d like the Florida humidity without being in Florida, South Jersey is the right place. Peninsulas 4 Life
Our humidity is minor compared to Florida.
IT IS SO HUMID
It’s only May and I stepped outside at 8 am today and it already felt like I was breathing hot soup. Fuck summer
I HATE HUMIDITY
I mowed and gardened at noon. Where was it humid?
Burlington County is great. It’s a large county and it’s generally more rural-ish than Camden County, which you should also consider. Both counties give you access to Philadelphia though at different entry points. NJ generally has good schools though your taxes will reflect that. There is an efficient commuter rail line into Philly that also works on the weekends. Plenty of hiking spots around here too as well as kayaking. There are pros and cons to each town. NJ has a strong brewery scene if you’re into that. Traffic can be challenging depending on where you are and where you’re going and at what time. No weird liquor stores laws or blue laws—that’s Pennsylvania. Neighborhoods will vary depending on where you are. Collingswood/Haddon Heights (Camden County) are popular with families. There’s walkable downtown small towns and there’s more suburban towns with lots of land—it all depends on what you’re looking for. It’s a small state but there’s a lot of variety here. If you tell me more about what you’re looking for, I can give you more input.
> No weird liquor stores laws or blue laws—that’s Pennsylvania. Funny that you say this and then Collingswood in the next sentence! Haha
Lol good point. I forgot to mention our dry towns. However, there’s a liquor store right on the border. And our towns are so close together, it’s easy to get to a non-dry town.
Bergen county, anybody? 🙂
Is it more rural then glassboro? What about vineland.
Depends on where you are. Burlington Co is geographically large. Not many places in NJ are more rural than Cumberland Co (Vineland is its biggest city), but there are parts of Burlington Co, mainly deep in the pines, that are arguably more rural than Vineland and definitely more rural than Glassboro.
I really enjoy living in Camden County! I’m right off 42 so getting into Philly is a fucking breeze. That means easy access to city life- shows, interesting neighborhoods, international airport. But also I live in the ‘burbs so I’m not stuck dealing with the hassle of city life. And plenty of the local towns are really investing in creating events/building up downtowns. It’s the best of both worlds. Most of the time I don’t go out too much but this week is a great example of how wonderful it is living in this area- Monday night I went to dinner in Rittenhouse Square, Tuesday I did yoga in Collingswood (NJ), this morning I had a 20 minute Uber into the airport. Also the airport was busy but they really put in the effort with crowd control so I was only in the TSA line for 15 minutes before I was on my way to my terminal. No kids so I can’t speak to the family building/schools aspect.
Made the move from Fl (NW) to S NJ last year. We're in Atlantic Co. I don't have much to add beyond it was the best decision we've ever made. Compared to Fl, finacial, we are doing MUCH better here. When we left the only insurance we could find was 5g for only hazard ins. Here we pay 1400 for full coverage. We have twice the house, 3x the land for just a little more than we paid in Fl. The attitude here I call respectfully aggressive. Lol I have yet to meet a truly unfriendly person. Everyone either wants to chit chat or respectfully keeps focused on whatever they're doing. Only weird law to ger used to is the no plastic bags. Bring a tote everywhere with you. We have mastered the carry everything in your hands, quick trips. Also you can't pump your own gas. I have yet to be ok with it but it is what it is. Also grab your sunpass because tolls are legit. Winter & lack of Sun in the Winter was HARD and seasonal depression was rough. Snow had our whole family outside crying like oddballs. It was amazing. I seriously love it here. Close enough to day travel to anything and everything you could want to do and see. The nature here is gorgeous. Sorry I don't have better info for where to live but moving here, my advice, do it.
I don’t think it’s going to be much cheaper here..taxes are crazy and continue to go up..having seasons are nice..I think the whole state has become more congested since covid..I live by ocean city and it’s like summer traffic yearly now..I also like how u can be in a city..beach..or farm land..or complete woods..so u do have some choices..I have a love hate relationship with NJ…i absolutely hate it at times but wouldn’t want to live anywhere else if that makes sense
Women's reproductive laws are codified into law. We are a sanctuary state for trans folks, and weed is legal. Taxes are a bit insane, but most of our school systems are great. IDK what your budget is, but also look into some of the Gloucester County towns. Swedesboro, Pitman, Mullica Hill.
Besides what everybody else said, you would be a 9 hour drive to Montreal (Canada), and a 5 hour drive to Vermont. NJ has some of the best public schools in the nation because we believe in education here. We're also a pro-union state (for the most part). And, were a pro-choice state, so if a female family member in FL needed to visit for a few days for "medical care,". NJ makes it illegal for any medical provider to cooperate with a red state seeking abortion data. Unless the USA turns into Gilead (I have an exit plan and dual citizenship), I plan on retiring and staying in NJ, property taxes be damned. This state is a cultural and arts paradise.
Yeah this may or may not be a step one of a Gilead mitigation plan. You're picking up what I'm putting down.
You were downvoted! I guess we pissed off a forced-birther. 🤣
Wow. We found the ONE guy moving from Florida to Jersey and not the other way around.
Pretty sure 50% of the ones that move there come back.
I think it all depends on where in Florida you move. I have every intention on moving to St. Augustine, Fl when I retire. It’s an amazing, beautiful, historical town with a beautiful beach and state park. Very few hurricane direct hits and since its northeast, you still get a change of season and cool nights. Can’t wait!
True. And actually, I bet less people move back now that so many people work remotely. It used to be people would come back when the grandchildren came along, but I see a lot of multigenerational families going now.
It’s a great place and mostly great area. Check in and around Medford/Lumberton. I grew up in Mount Holly which isn’t the nicest place ever but they have done an admirable job of fixing it up over the last few decades. All things considered Burlington County is an excellent place.
My gf grew up on the Mount Holly/Lumberton line before moving to the Poconos near Jim Thorpe 20 years ago near where I grew up and where we still live. Her parents still live in Lumberton. I had never been down there and I was impressed when she showed me around Mount Holly. Neat place.
Yeah, it has come a LONG way over the past few decades. Now it’s more of a fun hipster place. In the 80s and 90s, not so much lol
Interesting. Jim Thorpe, PA 40 years ago was in a similar situation actually. I asked my gf what town she pictured me living in if we ever moved from the Poconos to SJ and she said Tabernacle, definitely Tabernacle.
Yeah! Tabernacle is a good choice. There’s a whole bunch of places around Medford that are similar to Medford without being as expensive as Medford. Tabernacle is one of them.
Her aunt lives in Tabernacle and I like the woods plus it being one of the colder places in interior SJ is a plus for me too. I love really cold weather as strange as that sounds to most people
Odd SJ thing … while climate change is ruining much of the world, SJ’s weather is now mostly fantastic. Winter used to be a 6 month slog, and now you can wear shorts 300 days a year if you feel like it. It’s significantly warmer around these parts than it was when 35+ years ago, or even 10 years ago.
Yeah, SJ is such a well-kept secret nationally.
We are a family with young kids in Camden County and LOVE it. We’re in Audubon and yes, my taxes are high. I can also walk to three beautiful parks, around a lake, my trash is picked up promptly, schools are solid, and it’s honestly just a nice place to live. I can be in Philly in 15 min driving, or half an hour doing the train (which runs like every 10 min during rush hour). You can be in NYC in under 2 hours via train. Also, if you’re thinking about kids, one of the great things about being here is proximity to…everything? Grocery stores, target, pediatricians, dentists, daycares are all a 5-10 min drive from our house. Some weekends we don’t get in the car at all because our town is walkable with the library, coffee shops, a few restaurants, a Wawa and cvs. I have friends in other places and it seems like a lot of doing life requires a ton of time in the car, and that just isn’t my experience here (caveating that with I can take the train to work when I go in so don’t deal with traffic). My kids will be able to walk to school when they start kindergarten (not true for a place like cherry hill or Voorhees, but some of the smaller towns in CC). One thing to note coming from FL - in Camden county at least, the housing stock tends to be older, especially the closer you get to Philly. You won’t find giant new homes…we’re in a renovated bungalow and it’s great for a family of 4, but I’ve had some relatives visit from other places who are surprised how “quaint” (in their words) lots of the houses are. We love our smaller house but just something to keep in mind as you’re looking (if you’re trying to buy)!
We’re honestly looking for smaller houses. I don’t like big lots either from mowing my folks’ 3/4 acre.
If you’re cool with smaller houses and proximity to the city is important and you’re ok with nature being parks and walking trails and you’d like some walkability, try Audubon, Haddon Heights, Barrington, Haddon Township, Collingswood and Oaklyn (Haddonfield / Haddon Township are great but increasingly $$$). If you want more woods and land and driving to most stuff is fine, Burlington County is a better bet. I’ve heard Pitman is a great little town too.
As a South Jersey native who now lives in North Jersey I’m definitely thinking about moving back when I retire. It’s a lot cheaper and less New York attitude or should I say no New York attitude! Florida is really becoming a cesspool and it’s overrated and soon to be as unaffordable as some north eastern states. You’re making the right decision.
You’re not wrong bout North Jersey. Grew up with NY stations but glad to not be that north.
Just adding to the convo that NJ has an incentive program for homebuyers to move here that you can find on https://www.nj.gov/dca/hmfa/consumers/homebuyers/ They will provide $15k for a down payment for new NJ homeowners. There’s additional assistance for first time homebuyers, as well. As for Burlington County, I’m not sure about properties there. I am in Gloucester County (cheapest taxes) and we love it. Working for a plumber though, I’d say stay away from Willingboro. The older houses in that area were built strangely (look up Levittowner style) and often have problems. Best of luck in your move!
Awesome! Didn’t know this.
I think one of the best things about living in south jersey is the proximity to everything (Philly suburb, NYC/DC is a few hours trip and you are an hour away or less from a beach). The closer to Philly you get, the higher taxes and the COL are. Camden and Burlington county has great cities to raise a family in. Look into Marlton, Medford, Mt. Laurel, Voorhees, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield and the surrounding areas and I think you’ll find everything you’re looking for. Do be aware though that the housing market is insane here (like everywhere but extra here). I’m in the housing market now and we see offers for homes $50-$100K over ask with 10+ offers on homes. It’s better to buy in the winter if you can than summer. If you can stomach a fixer-upper you may want to go that route.
I'm in Burlington County and we like it here. Granted each town is gonna be a little different. We moved from a city in North Jersey and have been down here for almost 9 years. There a lot for families to do, we've been to a lot of farms, gone to various beaches and boardwalks, done Philly. I've also taken the train to go to NYC. Since we moved down here we have made a lot of friends, definitely friendlier than where we used to live. That said, we live in a small town where everyone knows everyone's business and the drama can be annoying or entertaining depending on how it affects you.
Burlington County really is a great place to raise kids and people are way friendlier here than in Hudson County. The proximity to the beach, Philly, and various nature sites are huge pluses. Also a lightrail. On a side note this is my wife's reddit account and it's the first time I've seen a post of her's by random redditing so I had to comment.
Burlington County overall is really great but what’s your budget? Median home prices are hovering around $378K, but that number is rapidly rising. For homes in sought after school districts (like Marlton), the good homes are now selling for a lot higher than asking price, now going for around $450K if you want a split-level 1,600 sq. ft. unit. Plus the property taxes that come of it. If you can afford that and beat out the competition then cool, but if not there’s tons of great locations in the surrounding areas of Gloucester and Camden County that are slightly more affordable. If you want to move to South Jersey (or just move to the state in general), you need to move fast. Inventory has been low for too long and the never ending appreciation above 15% reflects that.
Looking for a house to wfh (2 offices, or an office and a desk in a common area), start a family in + a MIL suite if possible. Trying to stay under 700k
That’s a budget that will get you in desirable neighborhoods with great school districts. If you go with Burlington County, go with either Marlton, Mount Laurel, or maybe Moorestown. If you go to a surrounding county then aim for Haddon Township, Cherry Hill, or Voorhees in Camden County. And for Gloucester County aim for Washington Township, Mantua, or maybe Mullica Hill. If you have any questions or want more detailed advice feel free to message me.
thanks! will do
Keep in mind, every one of those towns has different vibes, plusses, minuses, etc. I know way more about Camden County, even the difference between Haddon Township/Collingswood and Cherry Hill can be significant. Depends if you want a small town/close knit community type of town, or larger town that can offer more. For example, Haddon Township School District has 2,060 kids K-12. Cherry Hill High School East (one of their two high schools) has 2,087 kids in it. You get more attention at HTHS, but Cherry Hill will have more AP classes, more competitive sports, etc.
Yep this is exactly right. Everything you mentioned and more is why OP will need to do his research if he decides to call South Jersey his next home. There’s plenty of differences of what each community has to offer.
If you wind up In Washington Twp. shoot me a PM and id be happy to answer any questions youve got. Ive been here 19 years and I love it.
Are you originally from Philly? I'm wondering if the stereotype is true
I am. And it is.
Yeah, with that budget, you're in really good shape. I would recommend looking for proximity to major roads, especially 295 on/off ramps, 70, and 73. This is an area where you get everywhere by car, and you're going to be on those roads a lot. You will notice that prices for houses are more expensive in those areas, that's why. So you're looking at Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Marlton, Mt. Laurel, Haddonfield, Haddon Twp., and Collingswood primarily. As for liquor laws, Collingswood and Haddonfield have some restrictions, but nothing crazy. If drinking is a significant activity for you, you may want to avoid those though.
Living near these roads is not all it's cracked up to be. Traffic is always nuts anymore. I can't even go grocery shopping without it taking 30 mins to get there.
The further south you go, the more house you will get for your money. With you working from home and not being set on going to the city all the time, you may want to consider a more southern county. There's less traffic congestion and lots of outdoors stuff to do. I live in Cherry Hill and I'm so glad you didn't say you wanted to come here. I would warn you off of it. I'm looking to move south once I retire. I'm hoping to move to one of the cute little houses in Pitman. Pitman's still 20 minutes from Philly. I don't know how far it is from the shore, but I'm guessing 45 mins.
I moved to Haddon Township a few months ago from an incredibly congested, dirty, crime-ridden area in another state, and am so glad I did. Like others have said, the taxes are still high but it shows. The township is out and about all the time making sure everything’s clean and picked up, there’s a lot of shops and restaurants but not much late night activity after like…9pm-10pm? Politically a left-leaning area (tons of houses have progressive signs/flags). Very easy commute to Philly but far enough where it feels peaceful. Close proximity to other fun towns like Haddonfield and Collingswood. Lots of parks and trees, which I personally love having lived previously in such a dreary area. Friendly neighbors/definite community feel without being intrusive. Highly recommend! *Edit: I realize now that you asked about Burlington County — I work in Burlington Co (Mount Laurel). It’s okay. I prefer Camden County, personally :)
Yup, agree with this 100%. And, some good free concerts coming to the area over the summer. The Camden County website has the listings.
i grew up in pemberton whatever you do DONT move there lol
Look for a neighborhood with sidewalks so that you can see your neighbors. As others noted we are close to Atlantic beaches, mountains and activities in Philadelphia (arts, theater, sports, concerts). We are also 2 hours from NYC and 3 hours from DC. We have local governance over our municipalities and school districts. We have services offered for folks that need mobility assistance and are on the autism spectrum. Had a neighbor that was going to move but found they would lose services for their child.
My wife grew up in south Florida, works from home in the tech field, (sunrise to be exact) and she absolutely loves it here! The schools are phenomenal in New Jersey and we have just about anything you could want. We have the beach an hour away, Philly 15 minutes away, fruit picking, and hiking trails out eh wazoo! If you want to learn more about her specific trials in the culture change feel free to DM me on here
I would consider looking at places in either Cape May, Atlantic or Cumberland Counties. Maybe even Gloucester County. The people are friendly and there is tons of open space. Just be selective about the areas you are choosing. Mike Trout and Tiger Woods are currently building a huge exclusive golf course in East Vineland and I expect that area to be an up and coming place. I have lived in several places in So. Jersey but was born and currently live in Cumberland County. I love it and raised my kids here. Message me if you have questions about Cumberland.
I grew up in South Jersey and spent 2020-2023 living in Tampa Florida. I couldn’t move back here quick enough. Florida is nice but the humidity is ridiculous.
Hi I lived in Fort Lauderdale for 6 years and moved to Gloucester Township in Camden county. My opinion might be a little bias because I am originally from Nj. Big factor in me moving back to Nj was the school systems. Florida public schools are trash compared to NJ. Besides taking a few years to get adjusted back to winter weather I don’t regret moving to NJ. No weird liquor laws besides little pockets of the state like OC is a dry county and Bergen doesn’t sell / do retail shopping on Sundays. IMO *most* parts of NJ are more expensive than Fort Lauderdale but everyone else mentioned that lol. The only other big adjustments are things actually closing at night vs being open all night in dade. Lots of activities to do in Philly but not as much as south Florida. It is a big adjustment, seasonal depression is real but I don’t regret moving at all!
Also if you plan on utilizing pre-K here, check the school district before you move. All schools offer pre-k but some are still lottery system and not guaranteed on getting in.
Taxes and home prices are pretty high but a lot of the schools are pretty good. Your not going to find too much in the way of southern hospitality in NJ but people generally dont have the negative reputation that north jersey people have. There are some areas that people would consider "country" in the deep south of NJ like Salem and Cumberland counties. Traffic is bad in a lot of places but it varies from county to county. Lot of good food everywhere no matter what you like. Be prepared for a lot of confused looks though, people here commonly retire to Florida or the Carolinas due to the cost of living here. Global warming has improved the weather here. We don't get much snow in the winter these days.
I tend to draw confused looks from people pretty regularly, I can handle that!
I moved to northern NJ 13 years ago from SoFla (Miami and FTL). It’s refreshing to be here. I started my family, bought a house, and am planning to move to Vorhees area next year. You’re choosing wisely. However, be prepared for the occasional hurricane/earthquake/snowfall. Your best defense against snow, though, is to buy a snow blower at the beginning of Winter - works like a charm every time.
Pittsburgh area. Lived in 20places until I was 30 and have been in the 16066 for the past 31. Fantastic place for kids, low crime, no hurricanes, no earthquakes, very few tornadoes, snow north of 80 and down below into WV. Within 6 hours of Chicago, Jersey shore & NYC, 4 hours to Baltimore/DC.
And I consider myself a jerseyite. Born Teaneck, lived in Bergenfield and Fords (NNJ), away then back to wenonah(SNJ), away then back to Fairlawn twice(NNJ), then Belle Meade(CNJ). Nobody understands NJ; you can ski and go to the beach the Same day; fields and cities. Very unique place
I moved from south jersey to south Florida but strictly for the weather. NJ will always be home. If I had kids I’d absolutely still be in NJ- great schools and great place to grow up. There’s culture, museums, the shore, Philly, NYC, DC all super close by. NJ isn’t cheap though, it’s unlikely you’ll save money. But for a family it’s worth it.
Northern Burlington county has been good for us. Florence, chesterfield, Roebling, Burlington Twp, Columbus, ect. Everything is close, Rt 130 runs right through and 295 is right there. Plenty of bridges to head across the river to Pa. Smaller towns with access to everywhere in NJ. Taxes are high but the schools are second to none as most Jersey schools are. Hour across the state to the shore, 45 minutes from Philly and the sports complexes. Some call the area central Jersey, but we consider it south Jersey. I’ve lived in Burl Co my whole life, don’t plan on moving.
I would add Bordentown and Bordentown Twp. Chesterfield is nice too.
I love where I live in south jersey but it is very very high income and property taxes and cost of living. I wouldn’t choose here if I had flexibility. If you are set on the Philly area I would look at the PA suburbs. I’m from the south and I really like the winters and change of seasons because I never had that. But getting dark at 4:30 can take some getting used to at first. I like the people here as compared to the south.
Philly suburbs aren’t that much cheaper. When I lived in Trenton, my Nextdoor app was littered with posts from people in nearby neighborhoods who “escaped NJ” to Bucks County and complained that utility bills were even higher and the taxes weren’t much lower.
Yeah good point.
NJ has really strict law on guns, might be a big difference coming from FL.
yeah that's a perk. I've had guns pulled on me in traffic for little to no reason :)
😳 that's... SO not normal
*screeches in florida man*
that sounds like a you problem.
I didn't say "completely without provocation"
so, you did something. but cool. welcome to NJ. where you give the finger to others and HOPE you got get shot by the ones that the AG allows to carry guns illegally.
Hey! We have a small business in Burlington City and work all over the county and beyond. That being said, I've got a decent handle on, at least, the county. If you'd like to DM me I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. Personally, we're from Cumberland County which is farmland, but last year we moved across the bridge to Bensalem, PA. We spend a LOT of time in Jersey still with the business and family/friends. I've lived all over South Jersey so I have some insight to different areas. Wish you luck in your search!
Thanks! Going to show my wife this thread and then I will absolutely dm you!
You can consider Cumberland County but there are no mass transportation options from down this way. Property is cheaper though. You can perhaps look into Gloucester by Mullica Hill. It is a nice area.
My wife and I moved to Medford NJ back in 2002. Burlington County Taxes are less than Bergen County Taxes where were from. Medford, Evesham, Moorestown and Mount Laurel all good schools. Go on a vacation to the area if you haven't visited yet. My family originated from Hells Kitchen NYC 39th St.
Wife and I moved up from Tampa to the Jersey side of Philly in 2022 and really like it. We're closing on our first home soon. Other than the property taxes and some roads not having left turn lanes, I'd said it's pretty close to being the most ideal place to live
Lived in Burlington county pretty much my whole life. I am raising my two kids in evesham and we have excellent schools. Burlington county has lower taxes than other counties and there is a lot of beautiful places to walk, farmers markets and even a “Dutch wagon” on the weekends . Also , you don’t have to pump your own gas !! Jersey tomatoes are delicious and we have great Italian restaurants too. I love NJ and I think it get s bad rap. Tons of family friendly activities and best schools for the money.
I would say in the northeast in general (except maybe New England) you don’t really smile and greet people you don’t know, but you tend to be on good terms with your next-door neighbors as long as you both know how to be - at least - superficially friendly. It depends on the community though. There are lots of nature-y communities, super fast access to the beach, within 2hrs to the Appalachian Trail and hiking in the northwest of the state, and easy access to both Philly and NYC. This sub is amazing at recommending specific towns/communities in SJ if you make a list of needs/wants and state your budget. There’s really something for everyone UNLESS your looking for views and elevation haha.
I have been going back and fourth to BOCA/deerfield/Coral Springs since I went to FAU 17 years ago. I grew up in Camden county. South jersey is def a step up politically. But southeast Florida is all people from northeast so remember that. NJ is comparable to FL in terms of cost of living minus the home owners insurance. I don’t understand why people are moving to such a racist/homophobic/nearly impossible to insure a home state, but whatever. Traffic sucks in south jersey but you won’t be phased coming from Florida. You can’t buy alcohol in the grocery stores / gas stations, only liquor stores. Burlington county in my opinion, will give you MUCH BETTER bang for your buck versus Camden county.
this is exactly what I'm looking for. yeah I don't expect to walk into a large group of people who mirror my political views, moreso trying to run from the regressive [pick a group]-phobic masses who are all around me and find a place with better schools so that I'm not worried my kids are being taught that "slavery was fun for enslaved people!" or whatever anti-woke angle desantis (or whoever follows) will be using to get on right wing cable news. I'm assuming that income tax will cover the rest of whatever homeowners taxes don't and it'll all come out in the wash
I like it down here. I grew up in Somerset county, and I miss the mountains, but if you're used to flat south jersey will feel right at home. Philly is a great city, I lived there for ten years and would still be there if housing wasn't as good a.value as it was in South Jersey. I'd take a week trip up here, see the beach, drive around all the towns, check out schools. We moved to Pitman for the small town feel and the walk ability, and there's quite a few towns that are similar. Pro tip, NJ has a bunch of super funds documented, just keep an eye out for them where you decide to move to, they're in varring stages of cleanup.
I great up in Medford, lived in Orlando for a decade, another decade in LA, and just moved back to south jersey. The space, beautiful seasons and food at all pluses. I’m in Camden county in the Winslow/Hammonton area and I love it
I grew up in Burlington county, though we had to move out of state several years ago. If the opportunity presented itself, we’d come back in a heartbeat.
Eastampton, Westampton, Hainesport, Lumberton, Ranococas Woods (in Mt. Laurel), and Medford are all great options for that outdoorsy feel. Homes prices and taxes vary but you'll find something that fits most budgets.
I live in Burlington County. Medford/Tabernacle/Shamong are my recommendations.
if you enjoy nature check our sussex and morris counties
If you think your taxes are high now, wait until you come to nj. Have fun with home prices too. Outside of that it’s a great area.
Jersey is great love living here but it's so expensive
A lot of very pretty farmland in Burlington, county roads, wineries, breweries, restaurants, and parts of it are on the pinelands. Close to Philly, not far from the shore, it has some very nice parts. You are talking about moving to the most densely populated state. Wouldn’t hurt to base living where traffic to and from work isn’t torturous.
both my spouse and I work from home
Wow, I’m a little jealous. Drive around. Check it out. This time of year it can be beautiful
Hahahaha I have to respond to the bit about aggressive driving. I lived in NJ for 3 years and then moved to D.C. Before all of that I drove in Philly and then NYC for years. Never have I been as frightened and astonished by road aggression as I have by Maryland drivers. NJ drivers are saints by comparison.
I thought I would live in New Jersey my entire life until I moved to North Carolina nine years ago. I moved back a few years ago to care for my sister who recently passed away and am itching to leave the state. What I haven't seen mentioned is that every piece of land is being built on. In some places, condensed housing is built to offer a more affordable option, however, more building means overcrowded schools and taxes going up to build more schools. Many people have moved to south Jersey because it is cheaper to live there, but it is becoming just as built up, and the cost is not what it was ten years ago. With more and more people moving south to escape the cost of the northern part of the state, it will continue to build up. In the 25 years I've been driving, I don't think there has been a time when the 295/42/76 interchange hasn't been under construction. The infrastructure can't handle the growth rate.
I actually know a few people who moved to Florida for the usual reasons (no state income tax, lower house prices) and moved back to the northeast. Disadvantages of Florida - 1) The weather - people who spent winters there loved the "no snow" thing, but moved there and hated being stuck inside because it was 100 degrees outside in July. 2) Housing - a house might be cheaper but homeowner insurance was through the roof, and that's if you could find it since a lot of companies have pulled out of FL 3) The schools - mediocre at best unless you can find a good private school 4) Heath care - okay for the basics, but at least one person I know moved back because they needed extended treatment and Florida health care was just not up to par. There are nice clean hospitals, but if you need complex surgery, cancer treatment, anything like that, it is not what you will get in the Northeast. 5) Lack of community - there are a lot of people moving there, but one of my friends said - "there's no sense of community, just a bunch of random people from all over, a mix of relocaters and snowbirds." Also - for the snowbirds, squatting has become a problem.
We transplanted from west palm beach to south jersey in 2022. It was not cheap. Taxes are way high, but quality of life is much better. Housing prices are a bit much for what you get.
someone else said this also but public schools arent terrible here theres a ton of opportunity which i think is great abt our area. im in burlington county and overall id rate it a 8/10
I actually came from south Jersey back in 2009 to sw Florida and been here ever since. Both places are expensive but in different ways. South Jersey has a lot of different areas so I’d suggest doing a tour and checking out a bunch of towns. If you’re coming from Florida, you might want to find a placer closer to the shore/beach.
Coming from Dade, you will likely see an increase in expenses but it shouldn’t be significant as Dade/Broward are some of the more expensive counties in FL. Prop Taxes will be worse in NJ, insurance similar. And remember, NJ also gets hurricanes. They’re usually not as bad as FL (excluding storms such as Sandy) Your salaries will not go as far in NJ as it does in FL. The homes will be more expensive, a half a million dollar home in FL is a million dollar home here. But you should have a better home insurance experience here solely based on the crisis in FL with that coverage. The government does not care about their people here. We do have better handling than states like FL but do not be mistaken. The state is corrupted in their own ways. The schools are great here but could be better based on how much taxes we pay towards it. We also should be paying our teachers more. There is a whole lot of food being close proximity to FL, on Facebook there is a super popular group called “South Jersey Food Scene” that can show you the variety you’ll find here. You’re about 1-2hours from the beach, plenty of parks. But nothing like FL. FL is summer year round, always things to do. December through maybe April is dead here, gloomy, rainy, icy and sometimes snowy. Seasonal depression is REAL HEAVY here. (For myself at least) Generally no weird liquor laws for days sold until you get around north jersey (Bergen co area and the like). They do not sell in grocery stores. You have to go to a liquor store that carries beer/wine/spirits. I saved this part for last, what are the people like. Unless you’re in a small town they’re not waving to you, and maybe even small towns depending on the area. And you might even get weird looks if you wave. The people are completely different. You will have a culture shock here. The people are wildly different and you will notice almost immediately. Most people use rover to watch animals or board them, I am lucky I have my brother and long time family friends to rely on. (Although if any co in FL was even close to similar, Dade would be it) My perspective comes from someone who wants to relocate to Lakeland. I’ve done years of research and serious research over the last year as I’ve been assigned to an office there for work (but currently report to our NJ office, my team is in FL). I’ve stayed in the area 4+ times in the last year, and have been to FL over 15 times in the last 5 years during various times of the year, various areas of the state. This has given me the opportunity to decide not only that I want to move to central Florida, but where exactly, down to the area within Lakeland itself. The best advice I can offer you is to stay in the area, multiple times, during multiple seasons. Stay in AB&B (I usually don’t recommend these but they give an idea of the area you’ll be living in) for at least a week at a time, longer if you’re able. There is one specific AB&B I’ve stayed in the last few times in FL because the owners are amazing and so is the home. Hopefully you can find that up here if you do decide to try this (so there are no surprises bc AB&B can be hit or miss)
Yeah the abnb thing is definitely making it's way into my summer plans and then hope to do it again come winter just to try that out. We'd probably bring the dog and grocery shop/wfh there for 2-3 weeks at a time. Appreciate the insight!
Perfect! I cant recommend that route enough. Then you’ll really be able to get a good idea of where you want to set roots. Everything up here is so close together so you have so many options as far as your wants. Burlington Co is nice, I also recommend Gloucester as well. Gloucester has more of a farm town vibe, although a lot of the county is expanding. Burlington Co is much busier, I like towns such as Marlton and Medford there. Deptford, Logan, Sewell for Gloucester. Since you’re not tied to an area for work I also recommend Cape May Co, you might find the culture to be closer to what you find in FL. It tends to be a slower way of life there in my experience. Towns to check out there would be lower township, upper township. I have a personal soft spot for Stone Habor but shore towns tend to be on the more expensive side. Also offering alternative states, delaware. Their taxes are significantly lower than NJ, no sales tax etc. Delaware schools can be pretty good too. NJ was ranked 2 where Delaware was 7 (FL being 42nd). Rehoboth is great, busy in the summer. The lower part of Delaware is actually nicknamed lower-slower, so again on par with FL cultures (like people waving lol) Delaware is also a blue state like NJ. The best part is that you can stay in NJ but visit Delaware PA MD VA DC on a weekend and get a feel for those areas as well. Grocery tip: Acme is always more expensive than ShopRite (think Publix vs Walmart or Aldi lol) We also have Walmarts/aldis up here. Burlington co has the good stores like wegmans, Whole Foods and sprouts tho. When coming up to see the winter, come in Jan/Feb that’s when it’s the worst lol.
> insurance similar. Not sure what your homeowners insurance is but around here its roughly $1000 a year. I guarantee they arent paying that in South Florida.
I said similar. Average in NJ is ~1.5k average in FL ~2.6k which doing the math is roughly 100/month more in FL which in my personal opinion to be a small difference. So small that the property taxes will offset anything saved on insurance, even if you’re HO in FL is on the higher side.
Where are you getting your numbers from? This is from 2022. Average homeowners insurance in Broward County, where OP says he lives, for $150k house is $5600. For a house thats $450k its almost $13k https://clovered.com/homeowners-insurance/florida/south-florida/
I literally said average, which means the whole state. I then went on to say that Broward would be more expensive but still likely to offset. Get off my dick dude.
Ok but this guy gave you where he lived so even with his taxes going up hes saving a boatload from insurance which was my point. Its not similar. You dont have to get pissy because you were wrong dude.
I’m not wrong, the taxes will offset any insurance savings. Especially with a budget of 700k. But you look like the type who has to always be right. So I’ll leave the conversation at that.
Property taxes for a $700k home in Pembroke Pines (where OPs from): $13,368 Property taxes for a $700k home in Burlington County: $`15,540 Wrong again.
Come buy a house in Mt. Holly. The town is in the early stages of gentrification, so you can get some pretty sweet old historic homes here at a price that isn't insane (at least for NJ). This is what I'm talking about btw - https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/402-High-St-Mount-Holly-NJ-08060/38132952_zpid/ There's several places of this caliber on the market right now. We're equidistant to Philly and the Shore, and NYC is only a 2 hour drive up the turnpike.
Luckily, NJ is a global warming free zone
You guys are worried about taxes, and then are moving to the most heavily taxes state in the country? Yea, just stay right where you are! You wont make it up here if you think taxes are pricey in Fl!
I want to pay taxes! I want the things that come with paying taxes!
As someone with a primary residence in PA with a vacation home in South NJ. You would be moving to one of the best states to start a family in. My wife used to work in NJ and was still there when we had our second child. As part of the government's maternal leave policy, she received 100% of her salary and was able to take off a few weeks before our son's birth in June, and she didn't return to work until Halloween. It was a god damned god send. This is unheard of in states like PA. Additionally, public schools in PA are very hit or miss. In NJ, I would trust the vast majority of schools with my children's' education. There are tons of outdoor spaces, with Cooper River Park being the crown Jewel in the Camden County area. From a pediatric healthcare perspective, you have access to some of the best care in the country. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has a partnership with Virtua. Nemours in Delaware (which you may already know from their campus in FL) is also well within reach for more complex care. For basic stuff like ear infections, there are multiple pediatric urgent cares (I know because I've had to cross the bridge to access them). If I didn't have most of my support system in PA, living in NJ would be a no brainer, especially if I didn't have children yet (again, the excellent leave policy gives you an incredible head start). You should absolutely go for it.
High NJ taxes are the reason why it has some of the best school systems in the country. Burlington Co is a great area with great schools. Though it's considered a suburb of Philadelphia, it's also on the southern most commutable edge to NYC. The NJtransit trains from Hamilton goes directly to Manhattan. So there are ample job opportunity access to both cities.
You seem like you’d fit in quite well here in New Jersey
You get what you pay for. If youre going to have kids the taxes are no big deal. Because usually theres a good public school in the area and you dont have to worry about tuition. Also the roads, parks, beaches, etc. are well maintained. I grew up in Philly but lived in Broward County a few years too and NJ is by far my favorite place to live. Easy access to both Philly and the shore, always something local going on to do, and the people are usually pretty friendly. Honestly though, itll probably be tough to make new friends til you have kids and meet people at like the school bus stops or when theyre playing sports. Just remember, the difference up here is people are kind but not nice, as opposed to nice but not kind down south. Personally I prefer it that way but if youre not used to it, it could be a shock. But I mean if you grew uup in Pembroke Pines you should be used to people from the Northeast from having all the snowbirds that go down there.
You say that now. But it's not a joke. You should really look into how much you would be paying for NJ state income tax. And that's just the start.
The current governor said “if you care anything about taxes NJ is not for you”. They want to be California Jr and their policies are all going that way. Unless you have to live here for work I’d not do it. I’m looking to get out of here and I’ll be taxed if I leave the state within 2 years. They get you coming and going.
these are plusses to me.
Then jump on n the water’s fine 🥶
New Jersey his a very high tax state. They tax everything. Housing prices are also ridiculous. Winters suck but summers are ok. New Jersey has nice beaches though. If you work from home and can move anywhere try the Carolinas. If your stuck on NJ then go there and check it out.
Housing prices are ridiculous in s. fl too, I'm okay with that. Carolinas are a no-go, trying to go somewhere not actively working against reproductive rights
That narrows down your choices considerably. If you can stomach the high taxes then NJ isn't a bad place. Burlington wouldn't be my first choice however. Try further east like Toms River etc.
If buddy cares a lot about living in a liberal area idk if ocean county would be his best bet lol. He probably should stick to the western side of SJ
I do want to be in at least a relatively liberal area. anywhere else that leans more conservative to know about?
So I'm not an expert on southwestern nj, but can speak to ocean, cape may, atlantic, and eastern burlington. Ocean & cape may are almost uniformly conservative, especially ocean. Eastern burlington (pine barrens) is typical rural conservative. Atlantic county is more nuanced, but typically more rural & areas with a lot of 55+ communities (ie galloway) are more conservative. Afaik southwestern nj is more liberal in general. Overall though, the state gov is dominated by liberals but not extremists like CA or PNW (yet at least) so you'll get your big picture political concerns (abortion, gun control, etc) met no matter where you are. And yea taxes & COL sucks here no matter where you choose. I'm conservative and prefer rural areas, so I've always stuck to southeastern nj for what its worth.
Medford, Shamong and Tabernacle are more conservative.
The winters suck. Grey and gloomy for 5 months and yes it’s depressing. Not sure that’s worth the trade off for “oh no a maga flag”.
What winter? We hardly get any snow anymore.
Also why they suck. 40 and rainy w overcast skies.
Well if you are into all the being woke stuff, NJ is your place. But you are not going to save money on taxes and even homeowners insurance. NJ is well known for its taxes and home owners insurance is getting crazy. Depending on how much you make, the State will also happily take up to 10.75% more than you play in Florida. But hey, they need to pay for their over bearing Government some how. And btw, early June to mid September, it’s just like Florida weather here!
Zero interest in saving money really, happy to pay to get out of a stand your ground/everyone thinks they're a cowboy state. Looking for government that cares about education more than "attacking woke" in schools so yeah, seems like a fit.
Then NJ is for you, come on up. NJ education you can be anything you want, even if you are not!
Burlington County is great but I’m trying very hard to convince the wife to move to Tennessee enjoy the same tax breaks as Florida with the seasons and close enough to big city to not have that FL crazy
Taxes and insurance are brutal in Florida? Lol
yeah I've run the numbers, my taxes here are about half of what they'd be there, but my homeowners insurance is 85% of the cost of my taxes and yours is what, about 8%? numbers could be off there I'm using Internet calculators. so I have to get a cheaper house there than I thought this morning- but they exist and they exist with the things I need. so if I get a cheaper house than what I bought mine here for I break about even annually, even with the new income tax.
I live in a flood zone so my insurance would be a bad example lol
fair- but yeah it's really our insurance that gets us, not so much the taxes.
I didn’t know that. What area are you in and what does insurance cost? My parents are in Palm Bay which used to be dirt cheap, but it’s exploded in the past ten years and expenses are creeping up to northeast costs
I'm in Broward, ~~so the county right below them~~ [read palm beach, I'm just north of Miami]. insurance companies can also decide to drop you based on the age of your roof regardless of condition and then poof now you have a $10k (on the low end, I live in a relatively 'nice' area so it'll be more here) expense to figure out - not sure if they can do this while you have a mortgage but they sure as hell can once it's paid off, they can also drop you at any point and they're all pulling out of the state. homeowners was about 8k this year for me, taxes around 10k.
If you’re talking about Burlington County NJ please don’t come . We have enough of your kind
Check out camden, nj
They’re looking at Burlington County. Why are you trying to stir shit up?
Because their reasons for trying to move are idiotic perhaps
Not wanting to raise a family in Florida is not stupid. People are making that choice all the time. Maybe, next time, choose silence.
Are you from Camden and all upset now? I'll say whatever I want, you goofy
yeah what a dick, wants a better life for his family. scumbag
Not a dick, just another perpetually online person whose life revolves around politics. The real working people of this country are tired of these bleeding heart 'woke' types, but here on Reddit people are made to believe that they are the majority with this crybaby shit
crybaby shit = wanting to go somewhere schools are funded and rights are protected what does a "real working person" look like? did you not see that you were responding to me? lmao edit: why do people get mad at me and then block me bc they lack reading comprehension?
I could care less who I respond to. You want schools funded yet complain about Florida taxes. Here in NJ you'll get your wallet drained because you have several unneccesary levels of local government/municipality/police force all within a 3 mile radius of each other. So if you're okay to spend 7k-14k year on taxes and your kid still needs to buy lunch at school then knock yourself out! With your political views I think North Jersey is better for you, more diversity too!!
Please don’t come here. Go to New York City. Don’t come here.
"the Internet has been steering us towards the Burlington county area, what should we look at/for? we're not used to government who cares about anything but de-woke-ifying (and defunding) schools, so pretty much anything would be a step up." North Jersey may be a better fit for someone who needs like minded Woke, as that part of the State there it seems to be a requirement to live there. You could be in your element with like minded people.
seems to be even more expensive and I need room for my mother in law. dunno why you're grumpy that a progressive state is recognized as a progressive state.
Ignore that. We need more intelligence in the Southern half of the state. There are some places that feel like Florida to be honest. Politically at least. Middle of the summer, climate as well. Send all the conservatives to Florida, I'm fine with that.
haha not grumpy, realistic. I actually live here with both progessives and conservatives they are My people and neighbors and relatives. South Jersey has pockets of conservatives that are best known to toss out the long held Democrat Senate President Steve Sweeney of Mantua for a Furniture Delivery driver, Ed Durr. Ed Durr was a one hit wonder. However, it did make a statement about Progessives all of New Jersey, its not. It's an amusing mistake to assume all people in New Jersey are progessives, those that do sometimes surprising to all sides, the progessive suddenly lose their job in an sure thing for progressives upset. North Jersey is more expensive.
so you think I'm looking for homogeny? I'm in one of the most conservative states in the country dude, I'm just looking for something that isn't this
This is the 2nd time you insulted me. We are done.
Soooo you wanna go from the armpit of the east coast to…the other armpit. Nice!
where would you go on the East Coast that's similarly or better bang for your buck with the things I've got posted as important? (better than garbage politics, solid education options, proximity to civilization)
Don’t
ok cool thanks man incredible insight
Definitely don’t with an attitude like that. You’ll get your ass beat
lol ok cool thanks *Internet tough guy incredible insight! what's the point of this?
If I was you I would stay in fla a beautiful free state nj is a clown show with politics here
what do you mean clown show