New Jersey vs Pennsylvania: taxes, cost of living, laws

New Jersey

High tax burden · COL index 121

Wins 3 categories

Pennsylvania

Moderate tax burden · COL index 97

Wins 11 categories

New Jersey's top income tax rate is 10.75% vs Pennsylvania's 3.07%. Cost of living in New Jersey (index 121) runs 25% higher than Pennsylvania (index 97). Property taxes are meaningfully different: New Jersey averages 2.13% annually vs Pennsylvania's 1.43%. The median home in New Jersey costs $500K vs $270K in Pennsylvania.

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

Taxes

10.75%

Income Tax (top rate)

3.07%

2.13%/yr

Property Tax Rate

1.43%/yr

6.6%

Sales Tax (avg)

6.34%

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

$270K

$2,200/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,350/mo

$1K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$1K/yr

Crime & Safety

213

Violent Crime / 100K

305

1,368

Property Crime / 100K

1,394

Sex Offenders / 100K

183

134

Homeless / 100K

108

Healthcare

#19 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#17 of 50

79 yrs

Life Expectancy

77.1 yrs

6.8%

Uninsured Rate

6.5%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#2 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#23 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$1,800/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,350/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$155/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$150/mo

$640/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$510/mo

#44 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#37 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

D+6.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+2.0

Category wins

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

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