New Jersey vs North Carolina: taxes, cost of living, laws

New Jersey

High tax burden · COL index 121

Wins 7 categories

North Carolina

Moderate tax burden · COL index 94

Wins 7 categories

New Jersey's top income tax rate is 10.75% vs North Carolina's 4.5%. Cost of living in New Jersey (index 121) runs 29% higher than North Carolina (index 94). Property taxes are meaningfully different: New Jersey averages 2.13% annually vs North Carolina's 0.7%. The median home in New Jersey costs $500K vs $335K in North Carolina.

New Jersey

North Carolina

Taxes

10.75%

Income Tax (top rate)

4.5%

2.13%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.7%/yr

6.6%

Sales Tax (avg)

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

121

COL Index (100=avg)

$500K

Median Home Price

$335K

$2,200/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,450/mo

$1K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

213

Violent Crime / 100K

398

1,368

Property Crime / 100K

2,226

Sex Offenders / 100K

268

134

Homeless / 100K

105

Healthcare

#19 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#23 of 50

79 yrs

Life Expectancy

75.7 yrs

6.8%

Uninsured Rate

11.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#2 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#29 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$1,800/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,050/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$155/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$135/mo

$640/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$460/mo

#44 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#14 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

C+

D+6.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+3.0

Category wins

New Jersey

North Carolina

Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.

Score For My Profile →