49% of Residents Want to Leave NJ and Come to NC/FL

An interesting tidbit appeared in yesterday's Charlotte Observer newspaper, claiming that a recent poll said 49% of the residents living in New Jersey wants to move out of the state and go to either North Carolina or Florida.

Digging around, I found the story in the Star Ledger which appeared on October 17th. Don't just read the story itself, but also read the near 50 comments from readers that wrote in to voice their thoughts. Here's one particularly entertaining one:

"New Jersey, if the fumes, taxes (personal and corporate), traffic, and corruption don't kill ya, the stupidity in government will!

Hey, here's an idea, let's tax the people who don't make as much; an idea that will work right? Less tax to those who make more, more tax to those that make less. This state is in dire straights right now, along with many towns. Towns need more help financially, and the state has no funds to help.

$3.5 BILLION in deficit? The state just keep running up the credit card bills, chasing out the businesses. There is soon to be a tax on the tax.

I guess discussing this is like trying to introduce logic to an illogical equation. Nothing will change, anytime soon. Get used to it, or be prepared to move. I felt exactly like these people about living in the northeast. Taxes too high, cost of living is nuts." -1lvdherelong

I can totally relate to what these people are feeling, as I was one of them over 3 years ago. Between the taxes, the cost of living and the traffic, you simply don't feel like you can get ahead in the northeast. You're working like a maniac to pay bills.

A friend of ours who still lives with his wife in northern Jersey is purchasing a house and told us the property taxes were going to be $9,000. He said it without any emotion or shock...as if it was all normal. I guess in Jersey people just accept those numbers. I held my breath when I heard the figure and said to Matt--can you believe we're paying $2,200 property taxes for 3 acres??

So, I don't blame folks in New Jersey for wanting to run as fast as they can. And you won't be alone, because your buddies that left a few years ago are already waiting here for you.