Illinois Local Expert
Hannah Swieczka
“She read "Weird Illinois" as a kid and is now convinced most things have a haunted history.”
See full bio
From Illinois to New Jersey: How Life Changes After the Move
Swapping the Midwest for the mid-Atlantic brings more change than most people anticipate. Illinois and New Jersey share cold winters and a no-nonsense work culture, but the similarities start to fade once you dig into the details of daily life. Chicago's wide grid streets and affordable neighborhoods give way to dense commuter towns, New York City orbit, and some of the highest property taxes in the country. Our Snappy Scout team (Hannah & Diane) broke down the costs, logistics, and lifestyle shifts worth knowing before you start loading the truck.
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Who's Behind This Guide
The Move from IL to NJ: Miles & Drive Time
Average distance
800miles
Typical route
I-80 E and I-78 E
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Chicago, IL → Newark, NJ
~800 miles
Chicago, IL → Jersey City, NJ
~800 miles
Springfield, IL → Trenton, NJ
~850 miles
Rockford, IL → Camden, NJ
~850 miles
Peoria, IL → Atlantic City, NJ
~900 miles
Should You Move From Illinois to New Jersey Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to New Jersey from Illinois is the right call for your lifestyle and preferences.
Progress1 of 10 questions
Question 1 of 10
What kind of weather makes you happiest?
0/10answered
Live score
Collecting your answers and forming an opinion. Answer another question to see the results.
What Does It Truly Cost to Relocate to NJ from IL?
Moving 800 miles from Illinois to New Jersey will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $5,000.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$5,000.00
Expected Time
3–10days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,400.00
1 Bedroom
$2,080.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,430.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,980.00
4 Bedrooms
$7,170.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,970.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,400.00 | 300 | $4.67 |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,080.00 | 450 | $4.62 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,430.00 | 750 | $4.57 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,980.00 | 1,100 | $4.53 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $7,170.00 | 1,600 | $4.48 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,970.00 | 1,800 | $4.43 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
That's the average.
What about your move?
Get a personalized estimate based on the details of your Illinois → New Jersey move.
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Will Your Way of Life Work in NJ?
Well, it depends. If you're a Beach Bum, Tech Bro, or Gamer, you'll thrive in your move to New Jersey. But if you're more of a Cowboy, Homesteader, or Vintage Thrifter, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from Illinois to New Jersey.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from IL to NJ
Beach Culture
Illinois
3.5
/10
New Jersey
9.5
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Fun summers on Lake Michigan, but winter waves slap dreams silly.
New Jersey
Gaining
Boardwalks, roller coasters, saltwater taffy, Stone Pony after-sun encores
Recommended NJ cities/areas for Beach Bums
Cape MayAsbury ParkBeach HavenWildwood
Illinois
3.5
/10
New Jersey
9.5
/10
Tech Scene
Illinois
7
/10
New Jersey
8.5
/10
Illinois
Giving up
1871, Cameo, and tasty lunch at Au Cheval.
New Jersey
Gaining
PATH to Manhattan, Princeton startups, Bell Labs Holmdel echoes
Recommended NJ cities/areas for Tech Bros
Illinois
7
/10
New Jersey
8.5
/10
Gaming
Illinois
7
/10
New Jersey
7.5
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Ignite Gaming Lounge, C2E2, collegiate esports bubbling.
New Jersey
Gaining
Prudential Center esports nights, Yestercades nostalgia, fast gigabit lofts
Recommended NJ cities/areas for Gamers
Illinois
7
/10
New Jersey
7.5
/10
Cowboys
Illinois
3.5
/10
New Jersey
2
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Illinois State Fair rodeos scratch itch, but Fort Worth it ain't.
New Jersey
Gaining
Cowtown Rodeo thrills, but spurs feel lonely off Turnpike
Recommended NJ cities/areas for Cowboys
PilesgroveAugusta
Illinois
3.5
/10
New Jersey
2
/10
Homesteading
Illinois
4.5
/10
New Jersey
3
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Affordable acreage, but Shawnee winters and tornado nerves persist.
New Jersey
Gaining
Pine Barrens acres exist, but taxes tame off grid dreams
Recommended NJ cities/areas for Homesteaders
MontaguePilesgroveChatsworth
Illinois
4.5
/10
New Jersey
3
/10
Thrifting
Illinois
8.5
/10
New Jersey
7
/10
Illinois
Giving up
Brown Elephant, Kokorokoko, hidden gems on Clark Street.
New Jersey
Gaining
Golden Nugget treasures, Red Bank Antique Center, Montclair goodies
Recommended NJ cities/areas for Vintage Thrifters
LambertvilleRed BankMontclair
Illinois
8.5
/10
New Jersey
7
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of New Jersey?
The smell of the ocean. The sound of the seagulls down the shore. The train whistles from the local commuter lines.
– Diane Briante
New Jersey Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Illinois and living in New Jersey
IllinoisNew Jersey
The Local Food Differences Between IL and NJ
Eating Like a Local in Illinois
While Chicago is all about deep dish pizza and Italian beef, Illinois has a much more mature palate. Depending on which exact city or suburb you find yourself in, the locals may eat differently. Rule #1, avoid chain restaurants (with the exception of Chicago-based chains, such as Portillo's Hot Dogs). Otherwise, find the mom & pop restaurant and trust your instinct! Any place named after a person won't steer you wrong.
Hannah SwieczkaIllinois Local ExpertEating Like a Local in New Jersey
Every diner has something they're famous for. Order that. Don't order something too fancy. Avoid the red sauce unless you have inside information that it doesn't come from a can. Splurge on those amazing looking cakes or pies. And we judge diners by their fries. If their fries aren't good, we might not be back.
Diane BrianteNew Jersey Local ExpertNew Jersey looking like
the right move?
There’s one more number worth knowing: what it’ll cost to get there.
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What the Move from IL to NJ Looks Like for Your Bottom Line
Illinois
New Jersey
IllinoisvsNew Jersey
State Income Tax
State Income TaxFlat 4.95% statewide
Progressive 1.4% to 10.75%, top rate over $1M, multiple brackets
Illinois
Flat 4.95% statewide
VS
New Jersey
Progressive 1.4% to 10.75%, top rate over $1M, multiple brackets
Property Taxes
Property TaxesAmong highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
North Jersey suburbs like Bergen and Essex pricier, South Jersey lower, Jersey City abatements
Illinois
Among highest nationally, Cook County complex, suburban collar counties high, downstate generally lower
VS
New Jersey
North Jersey suburbs like Bergen and Essex pricier, South Jersey lower, Jersey City abatements
Moving to NJ from IL: The Values, Beliefs, & Politics Reality
Illinois
New Jersey
IllinoisvsNew Jersey
People
PeoplePolite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
Direct, fast talking, proudly diverse, neighborhood loyal, bagel and pizza opinions unshakeable
Illinois
Polite Midwesterners, Chicago hustle, small town neighborly, sports obsessed, weather tough
VS
New Jersey
Direct, fast talking, proudly diverse, neighborhood loyal, bagel and pizza opinions unshakeable
Politics
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
Reliably blue statewide, GOP strength in Ocean Monmouth Sussex, suburban moderates swing
Illinois
Reliably blue statewide, Chicago deep Democratic, suburbs trend blue, downstate more conservative
VS
New Jersey
Reliably blue statewide, GOP strength in Ocean Monmouth Sussex, suburban moderates swing
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
Largely Christian, many Catholics, notable Jewish in Lakewood and Teaneck, growing Hindu Muslim unaffiliated
Illinois
Mostly Christian, strong Catholic in Chicago, notable evangelical downstate, sizable Muslim and Jewish, rising unaffiliated
VS
New Jersey
Largely Christian, many Catholics, notable Jewish in Lakewood and Teaneck, growing Hindu Muslim unaffiliated
The Unfiltered Climate Truth: IL vs NJ
SUMMER
Illinois
Cornfield steam bath - sticky 90s from Chicago to Carbondale, perfect for iced coffee and complaining about humidity
New Jersey
boardwalk waffle iron (sticky 90s inland, ocean breeze tempers the Shore)
WINTER
Illinois
Face-numbing cold (lakefront stings)
New Jersey
puffer coat roulette (High Point bites, Cape May shrugs)
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in New Jersey
The first day warm enough to hang out on the beach, the leaves changing in the fall - and the taste of my first Curley fries in Wildwood. The best!
Diane BrianteNew Jersey Local Expert✧ You've researched the move ✧
Now put a number
on it.
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Next Steps
Learn More About Moving to New Jersey
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind Illinois, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to New Jersey. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from New Jersey local experts.
Moving toElizabeth
EWR Roar, 13A, Pastéis, And Port Crane Views
Moving toJersey City
A Deep Look At The Only City To Have Two PATH Stops In Its Limits
Moving toNewark
Ironbound Eats, PATH Zips, Branch Brook Park Blooms
