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

New Jersey

High tax burden · COL index 121

Wins 6 categories

Utah

Moderate tax burden · COL index 101

Wins 8 categories

New Jersey's top income tax rate is 10.75% vs Utah's 4.65%. Cost of living in New Jersey (index 121) runs 20% higher than Utah (index 101). Property taxes are meaningfully different: New Jersey averages 2.13% annually vs Utah's 0.44%. Politically, Utah voted Republican in 2024 (R+13.0) while New Jersey went Democratic (D+6.0).

New Jersey

Utah

Taxes

10.75%

Income Tax (top rate)

4.65%

2.13%/yr

Property Tax Rate

0.44%/yr

6.6%

Sales Tax (avg)

7.19%

Yes

Social Security Tax

Yes

Estate Tax

Yes

As income

Capital Gains Tax

As income

Housing & Cost of Living

121

COL Index (100=avg)

101

$500K

Median Home Price

$500K

$2,200/mo

Median Rent (2BR/mo)

$1,650/mo

$1K/yr

Home Insurance (avg/yr)

$900/yr

Crime & Safety

213

Violent Crime / 100K

237

1,368

Property Crime / 100K

2,280

Sex Offenders / 100K

277

134

Homeless / 100K

110

Healthcare

#19 of 50

Healthcare Quality Rank

#31 of 50

79 yrs

Life Expectancy

79.2 yrs

6.8%

Uninsured Rate

9.8%

Yes

Medicaid Expansion

Yes

Education

#2 of 50

K-12 Quality Rank

#37 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Yes

Childcare

$1,800/mo

Avg Infant Care / mo

$1,150/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$155/mo

Avg Energy Bill / mo

$110/mo

$640/mo

Avg Groceries / mo

$490/mo

#44 of 50

Road Quality Rank

#17 of 50

Social Policy

Gun Laws Grade

D+6.0

2024 Presidential Margin

R+13.0

Category wins

New Jersey

Utah

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