AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE
Policies that Address New Jersey’s High Cost of Living
AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE
Survey after survey of Garden State residents reveals an indisputable truth, our state’s high cost of living, driven by one of the nation’s highest tax burdens, is forcing residents to leave our state. The Garden State Initiative advocates for reforms that force the government to live within its means while making our state an attractive and affordable place to call home.
STAY IN THE LOOP WITH NEW JERSEY AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE
$9,490
Average Property Tax Bill
The highest in the United States.
$474,669
Average Home Value
32.8% higher than U.S. average of $357,319 (Source: Zillow)
49th
Rank for Retirement
Rank for Retirement: 49th – driven primarily by taxes and cost of living (Source: Wallet Hub).
13.2%
State and Local Tax Burden
5th highest in the country vs. 11.2% United States average (Source: Tax Foundation).
FEATURED POST
RELEASE: GSI Statement on Governor Murphy’s State of the State Address
January 9, 2024
In response to Governor Murphy's State of the State Address, GSI President Regina Egea released the following statement: "As expected, the Governor’s State of the State Address is a recounting of past achievements and an optimistic outlook. One key word in the Governor’s remarks was affordability. This is certainly common ground for all elected officials and policy makers in the…
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THE LATEST WORK ON AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE
RELEASE: GSI Statement on Governor Murphy’s State of the State Address
January 9, 2024
In response to Governor Murphy's State of the State Address, GSI President Regina Egea released the following statement: "As expected,…
What now? New Jersey has to hit the reset button on its energy policy — and get it right
November 8, 2023
Depending on where you stand when it comes to offshore wind development, the recent stunning announcement by the Danish power…
GSI’s EGEA: The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia coincident indexes report is, “is another indication that New Jersey’s economic outlook is bleak.”
October 25, 2023
Garden State Initiative’s president, Regina M. Egea, issued the following statement on the The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia September…
GSI’s EGEA: September ‘23 Jobs Report
October 19, 2023
Garden State Initiative’s president, Regina M. Egea, issued the following statement on the September ‘23 Jobs Report: “Today’s report forecasts…
PODCAST: Electric Cars for Everyone in New Jersey?
September 18, 2023
Welcome to the GSI Briefing podcast – featuring guest host Audrey Lane, Policy Director of the Garden State Initiative. By now you’ve probably heard that Governor…
Enough talking. It’s time to deliver affordable and reliable energy to New Jersey
September 18, 2023
For years, there has been a small group of voices questioning the true cost to ratepayers of implementing Gov. Phil…
Why we must empower New Jersey’s public sector workers with benefits reform
August 28, 2023
New Jersey taxpayers need to be aware of the potential hurdles they may face if changes are not made to…
GSI’s Egea: “Let’s call this budget what it is: A fiscal calamity”
June 30, 2023
Garden State Initiative’s president, Regina M. Egea, issued the following statement on the passage of New Jersey’s Fiscal Year 2024…
Here are the 13 towns with the highest property tax bills in NJ
June 6, 2023
New Jersey property taxes remain among the most expensive of any state in the nation, but some towns illustrate the…
NJ state budget: This is why Democrats ‘do not want drama’
March 7, 2023
With an address outlining his proposed budget for New Jersey's fiscal year 2024, Gov. Phil Murphy has handed off the…
GSI’s Regina Egea Talks Business & Economy on “New Jersey Politics”
January 24, 2023
GSI's Regina Egea appeared on the January 22nd edition of "New Jersey Politics with Laura Jones" for a wide ranging…
New Jersey ranks at the rock bottom financially, according to a new study | Opinion
December 20, 2022
By Thomas J. Healey It’s easy for New Jersey taxpayers to feel positive about their government’s financial condition. First full…
GSI’s Egea Talks NJ Taxes & Economy on The Dawn Stensland Show
November 18, 2022
GSI's Regina Egea joined The Dawn Stensland Show on 1210 WPHT in Philadelphia to discuss New Jersey's economy and her…
How much will NJ taxpayers and public workers get slammed by health plan hikes?
October 14, 2022
As health insurance sign-up season begins, everyone is bracing for hikes in their premiums. But one group already knows that…
PODCAST: Pennsylvania’s Plans to Grow Prosperity Are a Lesson for New Jersey
October 1, 2022
In this episode of the GSI Briefing, we are taking a look across the Delaware River to Pennsylvania who recently…
PODCAST: New Jersey’s Crystal Ball: Where Our State is Headed
August 25, 2022
Welcome to the GSI Briefing podcast – hosted by Regina Egea, President of the Garden State Initiative. In this episode of the GSI Briefing, we’re…
PODCAST: Where the Jobs Are: NJ’s Employment Outlook
July 27, 2022
Welcome to the GSI Briefing podcast – hosted by Regina Egea, President of the Garden State Initiative. In this special edition of the GSI…
“There are no tax cuts” – GSI’s Egea Fact Checks the Budget Rhetoric with Joe Piscopo
June 30, 2022
On Thursday morning GSI’s president Regina Egea joined host Joe Piscopo on Salem Media’s AM 970 radio to fact check…
Podcast: Veterans Are Being Left Out in New Jersey
May 10, 2022
Welcome to the GSI Briefing podcast – hosted by Regina Egea, President of the Garden State Initiative. This episode features Regina’s conversation with Col.…
PODCAST: You Can’t Escape Death and New Jersey’s Taxes
April 19, 2022
Welcome to the GSI Briefing podcast – hosted by Regina Egea, President of the Garden State Initiative. This episode features two leading voices on…
GSI’s Egea: Budget Gimmicks Do Nothing to Address Affordability
March 8, 2022
View fullsize Regina M. Egea Garden State Initiative’s president, Regina M. Egea, issued the following statement on Governor Phil…
GSI’s Egea Discusses NJ’s Retiree Exodus on NJ Now
December 6, 2021
Regina Egea recently joined Dianne Doctor on My9's NJ Now to discuss GSI's new report "Retirees and New Jersey: How…
PODCAST: How can New Jersey stop the exodus of retirees from our state?
November 23, 2021
In this episode of The GSI Briefing, Regina Egea is joined by Dan Geltrude to discuss several important financial topics outlined…
ROI-NJ: Report offers 4 ways to make N.J. an easier place to retire
November 22, 2021
By Tom BergeronMake all retirement income tax-exempt. It’s a simple thing. One that other states do. One that isn’t considered…
NJ.com: Just how expensive is renewable energy? Can we afford it?
August 5, 2021
By Regina M. EgeaWould you sign a lease for an apartment without knowing the monthly rent? As Garden State Initiative…
PODCAST: Making South Jersey a Millennial Magnet with Sen. Mike Testa
July 13, 2021
Regina Egea, host of The GSI Briefing podcast and president of the Garden State Initiative, speaks with State Senator Michael…
NJ Spotlight: Buoyed by investor response, NJ to move on $4B in COVID borrowing
November 18, 2020
By John ReitmeyerGov. Phil Murphy’s administration is expected to sign off Wednesday on a debt sale that will bring in…
NJ Spotlight: If you Buy Gas in New Jersey, You Might be Paying More Before Long. Here’s Why
July 27, 2020
By John ReitmeyerNew Jersey motorists should know within a matter of weeks whether they are going to get hit with…
Center Square NJ: Plan to furlough New Jersey state employees might rely on federal funding
April 30, 2020
By Sarah Downey(The Center Square) – As the economic impact of COVID-19 continues to chip away at state finances, New Jersey…
NJ Spotlight: Atlantic City Expressway Is Latest NJ Road Being Eyed for a Toll Hike
March 30, 2020
by John ReitmeyerThe Atlantic City Expressway is the latest New Jersey toll road for which a plan is in the…
Press of Atlantic City: State letting lockdown diminish public oversight of big toll hikes
March 30, 2020
A 2018 report from the Pew Charitable Trusts warned motorists that states were turning to toll roads “to fill treasuries…
NorthJersey.com: There’s a coming coronavirus tax crisis. How will it hit NJ’s budget and your tax bills?
March 24, 2020
by Stacey Barchenger and Ashley BalcerzakThe consequences of the rapidly-spreading novel coronavirus — from business closures to widespread work-from-home mandates —…
NJ.com: NJ Property Taxes Hit Another New High Last Year
March 5, 2020
By Samantha MarcusNew Jersey’s sky-high property taxes rose 2.1 percent statewide in 2019, an increase Gov. Phil Murphy says is proof his…
APP.com: Murphy’s budget plan more depressing news for NJ’s middle class
February 26, 2020
Some context is in order for assessing Gov. Murphy’s third annual budget, which he unveiled today with a renewed call for a…
NorthJersey.com: Census expected to prove that yes, people are fleeing NJ and NY for cheaper places to live
February 24, 2020
by David M. ZimmerIn a little more than a month, workers for the U.S. Census Bureau will start counting people nationwide…
NJ.com: Mulshine – Under Governor Phil Murphy, the state of the state is heading south
January 15, 2020
by Paul MulshineIf you were watching the NCAA football championship game Monday night as I was, you might have noticed…
BurlCo Times: Poll: 44% of NJ residents planning to move away
November 27, 2019
by David LevinskyThe poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University and the Garden State Initiative found that 44% of New Jersey residents…
APP.com: NJ not getting money’s worth on gas tax
August 12, 2019
Consensus is pretty hard to come by in these days of over-heated rhetoric. The good news though is a New…
APP.com: NJ property taxes: Tell your representatives you need relief
June 1, 2019
Probably one of the best pieces of advice I ever received as an editorial writer is there is no point…
Bloomberg: Florida Is the Big Winner as the Wealthy Move Out of Northern States
May 28, 2019
Roughly 5 million Americans move from one state to another annually and some states are clearly making out better than…
ROI-NJ: Manufacturer: Cost of doing business in N.J. may force me to move to Pa.
May 20, 2019
For 29 years, Tektite Industries has been proud to build a business in New Jersey and help carry the torch for manufacturing…
NorthJersey.com: Is the Greenwich housing crash predictive of NJ? Maybe more than you think | Opinion
May 1, 2019
A recent Wall Street Journal report, “Wealthy Greenwich Home Sellers Give in to Market Reality,” on Connecticut’s real estate market should…
APP.com: Most CPAs telling clients to relocate out of NJ: Thomas
May 1, 2019
Certified public accountants often hear objections about New Jersey’s high taxes from clients who are looking to leave New Jersey…
NJ.com: This is why I’m leaving New Jersey
April 16, 2019
I have contemplated writing a letter to the state government of New Jersey, including the Governor, Senate President, Assembly Speaker,…
APP.com: Are YOU part of Murphy’s MIDDLE CLASS?
April 3, 2019
Gov. Phil Murphy constantly evokes the theme that his administration is all about working for the middle class and the "aspiring middle…
GSI Opinion: Here’s Why Your New Jersey Property Taxes Will Never Go Down (Unless There’s Radical Change)
January 28, 2019
By GSI StaffNJSpotlight.com’s John Reitmeyer takes a look at the recurring issue on New Jersey’s property tax burden and the…
Politico: New Jersey minimum wage stall curbs state’s vision as Democratic trendsetter
January 8, 2019
GSI’s president, Regina M. Egea, was interviewed by Politico New Jersey’s Katherine Landregan for a piece on the stalemate between…
GSI’s Egea: Biting the hand that feeds us just starves New Jersey
December 18, 2018
The following opinion piece was published on NorthJersey.com on December 18, 2018.Stuck between a rock and a hard place. That’s…
GSI’s Egea: Editorial Mischaracterized Millennial Flight
September 16, 2018
The following opinion piece was published on DailyRecord.com and MyCentralJersey.com, along with the print editions of the Daily Record, Courier News…
Daily Record: Editorial Mischaracterized Millennial Flight
September 16, 2018
“It could be worse” isn’t exactly a comforting motto for most life situations.But that’s the core message of the editorial…
Washington Post: Connecticut is drowning in debt. Should the rest of us have to pay?
July 24, 2018
In 1787, when the Constitutional Convention and an infant republic “hung by a thread,” two imaginative New Englanders solved the…
GSI’s Egea: Taxpayers Will Cut-up the Government’s “No Limit” Credit Cards When They Move to Other States
July 1, 2018
Garden State Initiative President Regina M. Egea issued the following statement after the announcement of a budget agreement between Governor…
GSI President Egea: Dem Plan to Increase Taxes Will Make NJ Anti-Business (Op-ed)
June 18, 2018
The following op-ed was published on NJ.com and in the Sunday Newark Star-Ledger on June 17, 2018By Regina M. EgeaLast…
Star-Ledger: Dem Plan to Increase Taxes Will Make NJ Anti-Business
June 17, 2018
The following op-ed appeared on June 17, 2018 on NJ.com and the print edition of the Newark Star-Ledger. It was later…
Asbury Park Press: 5 (More) Ways to Reduce Property Taxes In NJ: Egea
June 14, 2018
GSI President Regina Egea published an op-ed on the website of the Asbury Park Press as part of their ongoing…
Egea: 5 (more) ways to reduce property taxes in NJ (Op-ed)
June 13, 2018
As published on APP.com, 6/13/2018New Jersey has the highest per capita property taxes in the country yet all one reads…
Observer: New Jerseyans’ Views of the Garden State Hit Record Low
May 31, 2018
"The top concern on the minds of New Jerseyans is the perennial issue of property taxes, with 45 percent calling…
Jersey Matters: “Our Government Costs Too Much”
May 9, 2018
GSI’s president Regina Egea discusses the state's fiscal problems and possibilities with Larry Mendte, host of “Jersey Matters." "There's been…
The Wall Street Journal: ‘My Clients Are Fleeing NJ Like It’s on Fire’
May 9, 2018
James Freeman, assistant editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page, was among the speakers at GSI's Economic Policy Forum…