All Jersey jokes aside, I tell my kids that NJ was a great state to grow up in in the 80’s. Actually, it was a great state for a long time. Most of the state is small suburban towns, you have NY about an hour away from half the state, and Philly the other half. The shore is accessible and uniquely Jersey, but the other end of the state is mountains and country and pretty rural. Sports teams, theater, higher eduacation options everywhere. It really was great at one time.
However, housing costs are insane and taxes in particular. It is not uncommon for a middle class family to have a property tax bill in excess of $10K and most times its pushing 20K. The state is ridiculously diverse and getting worse, with a huge illegal immigration problem that has turned towns i knew as a kid into something resembling a third world parody. So it’s no wonder millenials see it as a bad choice. Problem is, we’ve already ruined Florida, NC and are now starting to ruin SC as people’s flee. I think when i retire, as odd as it sounds, I’m going upstate NY to a little slice of nowhere to just relax and get away from everything.
Taxes are insane, but the state (thankfully) still has enough foreclosures and short sales to make buying a decent house under $150 to 200k quite possible.
The catch? Those properties were often neglected and need quite a bit of manual work to make them comfy to live in. Many millennials don’t have the desire nor skills to renovate a property.
It was a great place in the 70's. Easy and cheap train ride into NYC to see the Yankees or Mets (train then subway). Concerts at MSG. The shore before local law enforcement went police state. You could take the train to half the shore, pedal to the beach. Pizza (still the best). Much more.
I left in 1982. I used to go back to "recharge." Now it gives me a headache. But it's weird to see deer in the town I grew up in -- none in the 70's or 80's.