High cost of living has many in NJ ready to bolt

 Half of the New Jersey residents surveyed in a Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press poll say they want to leave the state because of the high cost of living.(<a href=Photo via ShutterStock) " title="shutterstock_77554693" width="1" height="1"/>

Half of the New Jersey residents surveyed in a Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press poll say they want to leave the state because of the high cost of living.(Photo via ShutterStock)

A new Monmouth University/Asbury Park press poll finds the high cost of living is making many New Jersey residents eager to leave.

Half the residents surveyed say they want to move out of New Jersey at some point, while only 45 percent want to remain in the state for the rest of their lives.

“Taxes and cost of living are driving people out of this state,” said Patrick Murray, poll director. “‘People don’t think that they can afford to retire in New Jersey, and so they’re going to try to leave more and more while they’re still in the workforce.

“That’s going to be very difficult for New Jersey to take because it’s going to deplete our tax base.”

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

Residents earning higher incomes say they’re more likely to move out of New Jersey.

And 70 percent of New Jersey residents surveyed say they’re at least somewhat concerned about having enough money for retirement.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal