State comparison
Guam vs New Jersey: which state is better to live in?
Guam costs a median household about $12,000 a year less in state and local taxes than New Jersey, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $2,276 a year against $10,650 in New Jersey, though everyday prices run higher there (cost of living index 132 against 121).
Guam
Low tax burden · COL index 132
Wins 3 categories
New Jersey
High tax burden · COL index 121
Wins 2 categories
Taxes: Guam vs New Jersey
Guam has a graduated income tax topping out at 37%, which works out to 0.0% on a median income of $74,580, or $0 a year. New Jersey has a graduated income tax topping out at 10.75%, which works out to 3.5% on a median income of $74,580, or $2,628 a year. Guam wins on income tax at 2026 rates.
Property tax is 0.75% of home value a year in Guam and 2.13% in New Jersey (Tax Foundation, 2023), so Guam has the lower rate.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 2.00% in Guam and 6.60% in New Jersey; Guam is lower.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $2,723 a year in Guam, $14,755 in New Jersey. Guam is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
Guam's cost of living index is 132 and New Jersey's is 121, where 100 is the national average; New Jersey is about 9% cheaper day to day.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election Guam went to Harris by 10 points and New Jersey went to Harris by 6 points.
Guam has may-issue carry permits and a Giffords gun-law grade of C; New Jersey has may-issue carry permits and a grade of A, so New Jersey regulates guns more tightly and Guam is the friendlier state for gun owners.
Tax figures use a household earning the national median income and owning each state's median home, at tax year 2026 rates, last checked against state sources on 2026-09-14. The table below has every number.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Social Policy
Category wins
3
Guam
2
New Jersey
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Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is Guam or New Jersey better to live in?
It depends on what you weigh most. Guam on taxes ($2,723 a year for a median household against $14,755); New Jersey on everyday costs (index 121 against 132).
Which is cheaper, Guam or New Jersey?
New Jersey is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 121 against 132. On state and local taxes Guam saves a median household about $12,000 a year.
Does Guam or New Jersey have lower taxes?
Guam. A household earning $74,580 pays about $2,723 a year in Guam ($0 income tax, $2,276 property tax on the median home and $447 in sales tax) and $14,755 in New Jersey ($2,628 income tax, $10,650 property tax on the median home and $1,477 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Is Guam or New Jersey better for retirees?
Guam is friendlier to retirees on paper. Guam does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax; New Jersey does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has an inheritance tax. Property tax on a median home is $2,276 a year in Guam and $10,650 in New Jersey.