Top-Notch Schools & Healthcare, Bottom-Barrel Finances: NJ's Jekyll and Hyde Report Card
As residents of New Jersey, we often wonder how our state measures up against others across the nation. New Jersey hasn’t been fairing too well in various recent lists. NJ has been ranking at or near the bottom of various recent lists including property taxes, affordability, unemployment rate, foreclosure rate, and even states for the dating scene for single people. The U.S. News & World Report's Best States rankings provide a comprehensive look at where New Jersey stands in various categories. Let's explore how the Garden State fared in these rankings and what it means for those of us who call New Jersey home.
Overall Ranking: #14
In the 2024 Best States rankings, New Jersey placed 14th overall out of all 50 states, not bad. This puts us solidly in the top third of states nationwide, suggesting that despite some challenges, New Jersey offers a good quality of life in many aspects. But what factors contribute to this ranking, and how did New Jersey perform in each category?
Understanding the Criteria
The U.S. News & World Report bases its rankings on eight main categories, each weighted differently based on a survey of what matters most to citizens:
1. Health Care (16.1%)
2. Education (15.5%)
3. Economy (13.9%)
4. Infrastructure (12.5%)
5. Opportunity (12.3%)
6. Fiscal Stability (10.2%)
7. Crime & Corrections (9.5%)
8. Natural Environment (9.9%)
Let's break down how New Jersey performed in each of these categories:
Health Care (#4) and Education (#4)
New Jersey excels in Health Care and Education, both ranking 4th nationally. This high ranking reflects the quality and accessibility of health care in our state. The category takes into account health care access, quality of care, and public health metrics. New Jersey's strong performance here is a significant positive factor for residents, indicating that we have access to some of the best medical care in the country. Only 9.6% of the population lacks health insurance, compared to the national average of 11.3%. These rankings demonstrate New Jersey's commitment to education and healthcare access. Another area where New Jersey shines is Education. This category considers both higher education and K-12 education metrics. Our high ranking here reflects the strength of our public school systems and the quality of our colleges and universities. The state boasts world-class universities like Princeton, and its high school graduation rate of 85.2% is commendable.
Crime & Corrections (#5)
Surprisingly strong, New Jersey ranks 5th in Crime & Corrections. With a violent crime rate of 203 per 100,000 residents, significantly lower than the national average of 381. It's a significant positive factor for quality of life in the state, indicating that New Jersey is generally a safe place to live.
Economy (#24)
New Jersey's economy ranks 24th, indicating room for growth. This middle-of-the-pack ranking takes into account factors such as business environment, employment, and growth. While not as strong as our performance in health care, education, and crime, this ranking suggests a relatively stable economic environment. However, it also indicates room for improvement in fostering business growth and job creation with a substantial GDP of $799 billion and a job growth rate of 3.2% (above the national average of 2.7%), the state shows potential for economic development. Recent unemployment rates though, show that New Jersey is ranked one of the worst (5th highest).
Infrastructure (#16)
At 16th in Infrastructure, New Jersey performs reasonably well. This category includes transportation, internet access, and energy infrastructure. Only 9.6% of roads are in poor condition, compared to the national average of 18.3%. However, the average commute time of 30.3 minutes exceeds the national average, suggesting transportation challenges in some areas. New Jersey has often ranked near the top in the worst states for commuters. The American Society of Civil Engineers disagreed with U.S. News & World Report’s rankings and graded New Jersey a ‘D+’ when it came to Jersey’s roads, bridges, and infrastructure.
Opportunity (#43)
New Jersey faces significant challenges in the Opportunity category, ranking 43rd. This low ranking is largely due to affordability issues, with a cost of living index of 108.8 (100 being the national average). However, the median household income of $96,346 is well above the national average, indicating strong earning potential for residents.
Fiscal Stability (#48)
At 48th in Fiscal Stability, New Jersey faces substantial financial challenges. This category looks at long-term fiscal health and short-term fiscal health. Our low ranking here indicates significant challenges in managing the state's finances, including issues related to pension funding and overall debt levels.
Natural Environment (#24)
New Jersey ranks 24th in Natural Environment, balancing positives and negatives. The state has fewer unhealthy air quality days than the national average but higher levels of industrial toxins, highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing industry and environmental preservation. This might be a surprise to many people who live outside the Garden State. New Jersey is often perceived as having endless polluting factories based on the area around Newark Airport and daily occurences of hypodermic needles washing upon the Jersey Shore.
What These Rankings Mean for New Jersey Residents
These rankings paint a nuanced picture of life in New Jersey. On one hand, we excel in critical areas like health care, education, and public safety. These factors contribute significantly to quality of life and make New Jersey an attractive place to raise a family or pursue higher education.
On the other hand, we face significant challenges in areas like fiscal stability and opportunity. The high cost of living in New Jersey, reflected in our low opportunity ranking, is a major concern for many residents. Similarly, the state's fiscal challenges could have long-term implications for taxes and public services.
Our middling rankings in categories like economy and infrastructure suggest areas where there's room for improvement. Enhancing our business environment and upgrading our infrastructure could boost our overall standing and improve quality of life for residents.
Looking Ahead
While these rankings provide valuable insights, it's important to remember that they don't tell the whole story. New Jersey's diverse communities, rich cultural heritage, and strategic location between major cities offer benefits that may not be fully captured in these metrics.
For those of us considering whether to stay in or leave New Jersey, these rankings offer food for thought. They highlight the state's strengths in essential quality-of-life factors like education and health care, while also pointing out areas where we face challenges, particularly in affordability and fiscal management.
As we look to the future, addressing these challenges while building on our strengths will be crucial for New Jersey's continued success. By working to improve our standings in categories where we lag, we can make New Jersey an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.
Whether you're a lifelong resident or considering a move, understanding these rankings can help you make informed decisions about your future in the Garden State. While no place is perfect, New Jersey offers a unique blend of opportunities and challenges that continue to shape the experiences of millions who call it home.
Top 10 States by US News & World Report (2024)
Utah
New Hampshire
Nebraska
Minnesota
Idaho
Iowa
Vermont
Washington
Florida
Massachusetts
