State comparison
New Jersey vs U.S. Virgin Islands: which state is better to live in?
U.S. Virgin Islands costs a median household about $14,000 a year less in state and local taxes than New Jersey, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $910 a year against $10,650 in New Jersey, though everyday prices run higher there (cost of living index 128 against 121).
New Jersey
High tax burden · COL index 121
Wins 2 categories
U.S. Virgin Islands
Low tax burden · COL index 128
Wins 3 categories
Taxes: New Jersey vs U.S. Virgin Islands
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. U.S. Virgin Islands 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. U.S. Virgin Islands wins on income tax at 2026 rates.
Property tax is 2.13% of home value a year in New Jersey and 0.30% in U.S. Virgin Islands (Tax Foundation, 2023), so U.S. Virgin Islands has the lower rate.
U.S. Virgin Islands has no sales tax; combined state and local sales tax averages 6.60% in New Jersey.
Add it up for a household earning $74,580 (the 2022 national median) and owning the median home: $14,755 a year in New Jersey, $910 in U.S. Virgin Islands. U.S. Virgin Islands is cheaper on total state and local tax.
Housing and cost of living
New Jersey's cost of living index is 121 and U.S. Virgin Islands's is 128, where 100 is the national average; New Jersey is about 6% cheaper day to day.
Laws and politics
In the 2024 presidential election New Jersey went to Harris by 6 points and U.S. Virgin Islands went to Harris by 40 points.
New Jersey has may-issue carry permits and a Giffords gun-law grade of A; U.S. Virgin Islands has may-issue carry permits and a grade of A-, so New Jersey regulates guns more tightly and U.S. Virgin Islands 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
2
New Jersey
3
U.S. Virgin Islands
Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.
Score For My Profile →Questions people ask
Is New Jersey or U.S. Virgin Islands better to live in?
It depends on what you weigh most. U.S. Virgin Islands on taxes ($910 a year for a median household against $14,755); New Jersey on everyday costs (index 121 against 128).
Which is cheaper, New Jersey or U.S. Virgin Islands?
New Jersey is cheaper day to day: cost of living index 121 against 128. On state and local taxes U.S. Virgin Islands saves a median household about $14,000 a year.
Does New Jersey or U.S. Virgin Islands have lower taxes?
U.S. Virgin Islands. A household earning $74,580 pays about $14,755 a year in New Jersey ($2,628 income tax, $10,650 property tax on the median home and $1,477 in sales tax) and $910 in U.S. Virgin Islands ($0 income tax, $910 property tax on the median home and $0 in sales tax), at 2026 rates.
Is New Jersey or U.S. Virgin Islands better for retirees?
U.S. Virgin Islands is friendlier to retirees on paper. New Jersey does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has an inheritance tax; U.S. Virgin Islands does not tax Social Security, partly exempts pensions and has no estate or inheritance tax. Property tax on a median home is $10,650 a year in New Jersey and $910 in U.S. Virgin Islands.