PHOTO: DEPOSIT PHOTOS
PHOTO: DEPOSIT PHOTOS
Matthew Fazelpoor//August 12, 2025//
The Garden State is one of the best states to live in, according to a new survey compiled by WalletHub.
The personal finance website used 51 metrics across five key dimensions to compile the list of best and worst states to live in. The Garden State’s ranking across categories includes:
With a total score of 59.81, New Jersey ranked third. It came in behind top-ranked Massachusetts (60.23) and No. 2 Idaho (60.19). The top five also included Wisconsin (59.66) and Minnesota (58.69).
New Jersey’s neighbors – New York (57.94) and Pennsylvania (57.90) – rounded out the top 10, ranking nine and 10, respectively.
The full WalletHub list and analysis are available here.
“New Jersey is the third-best state to live in, and it has the third-highest median household income in the country, at over $101,000,” WalletHub noted in its analysis. “In addition, New Jersey residents have the second-lowest median debt, the equivalent of around 29% of what they earn in a year. The Garden State has done a good job of tackling poverty, too, with the sixth-lowest share of the population below the poverty line and the 10th-lowest food insecurity rate.
Additionally, “When it comes to health, New Jersey residents have the second-lowest premature death rate in the nation, the sixth-lowest obesity rate, and the seventh-best overall life expectancy. One reason for the low-obesity rate in particular is the fact that the state has the sixth-most miles of trails and the fifth-most fitness centers per capita, which gives people plenty of opportunities to stay active.
“Finally, New Jersey has the ninth-lowest violent crime rate and 11th-lowest property crime rate,” WalletHub continued. “Due in part to the fact that it has the highest number of law enforcement employees per capita.”