You're swapping the Shore for the North Star State. It’s a massive jump.
Most people think moving from New Jersey to Minnesota is just about trading diners for hotdish and swapping the Turnpike for empty highways, but the reality is way more jarring. You aren't just changing zip codes; you are fundamentally shifting your relationship with time, space, and how people interact at the grocery store.
I’ve seen people make this move thinking they’re ready because they handled a "bad" winter in Morristown or Cherry Hill. They weren't. New Jersey is intense. It’s dense. It’s fast. Minnesota is a different breed of "busy." It’s a place where the silence of a frozen lake in January can actually feel heavy.
The Cultural Collision: Jersey Attitude vs. Minnesota Nice
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. Jersey culture is built on a specific type of transparency. If someone is annoyed with you in Red Bank, you’ll know within three seconds. There is a weird comfort in that honesty.
Minnesota Nice is a real, documented sociological phenomenon, and it’s going to frustrate you for the first six months. It isn't always "nice" in the way we think. It’s polite. It’s non-confrontational. If a Minnesotan says, "That’s interesting," what they often mean is "I hate that and I think you’re crazy."
In Jersey, we call it like it is. In the Midwest, especially in the Twin Cities or Duluth, there’s a layer of social cushioning you have to learn to navigate. You’ll find yourself wondering why your coworkers are being so vague. They aren't being shifty; they’re just being culturally Minnesotan.
The pace of life is the second biggest shock. Everything in New Jersey feels like a sprint to a red light. In Minnesota, people actually let you merge. It’s unsettling. You’ll be sitting at a ramp on I-35W waiting for someone to cut you off, and they’ll just... wave you in. Honestly, it takes a while to stop checking your rearview mirror for a fight.
The Cost of Living Reality Check
Everyone tells you the Midwest is cheaper. They’re mostly right, but it’s not the landslide victory for your wallet you might expect.
New Jersey has some of the highest property taxes in the United States. Period. Moving to Hennepin County or Ramsey County will feel like a massive relief on that front. According to data from the Tax Foundation, New Jersey’s effective property tax rate often hovers around 2.47%, while Minnesota sits closer to 1.1% or 1.2%. On a $500,000 house, that is thousands of dollars back in your pocket every single year.
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Housing is the big one
In Jersey, $600,000 might get you a fixer-upper in a decent school district within commuting distance of the city. In the Twin Cities suburbs—places like Maple Grove, Woodbury, or Eden Prairie—that same money buys you a legitimate estate with a finished basement and maybe a view of a pond.
But watch out for the "Lifestyle Tax."
- Heating bills: You think you know a high gas bill? Wait until it’s -20°F for two weeks straight.
- Winter gear: You can't survive a Minnesota winter in a fashionable wool coat from a mall in Paramus. You need gear rated for sub-zero temperatures.
- Vehicle maintenance: The amount of salt they use on roads in St. Paul makes Jersey’s road salt look like a light seasoning. Your undercarriage will scream.
The Winter Myth and the Brutal Truth
New Jersey gets snow. We get Nor'easters that dump two feet of slush and shut down the schools for a day.
Minnesota doesn't just get snow. It gets cold.
There is a temperature threshold—usually around 0°F—where the moisture in your nostrils freezes instantly when you inhale. That’s a Tuesday in February in Minneapolis. While Jersey winters are often damp and grey, Minnesota winters are frequently sunny and blindingly white because it’s too cold for clouds to hold moisture.
Why the "Dry Cold" matters
People say it’s a dry cold. It is. But -15°F with a wind chill of -35°F doesn't care if it's dry. It hurts. If you are moving from New Jersey to Minnesota, you have to invest in a remote starter for your car immediately. It isn't a luxury; it’s a safety feature.
The flip side? Minnesotans own the winter. In Jersey, we hide inside. In Minnesota, they go ice fishing, snowmobiling, and pond hockey is a religion. If you don't find a winter hobby, the move will break you by March.
Food: From Diners to Delis (and the Lack Thereof)
Prepare to mourn the loss of the 24-hour diner. They basically don't exist here. You can find "family restaurants," but they aren't the same. The silver-clad, 20-page-menu institutions of the East Coast are a distinct cultural heritage that hasn't migrated to the 612 area code.
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And the bagels. Just stop looking now.
You will not find a real bagel in most of Minnesota. You’ll find "circular bread." The water chemistry isn't the same, and the crust won't have that snap you’re used to in Hoboken. Same goes for pizza. While the Twin Cities has a burgeoning food scene with incredible James Beard-recognized chefs (like Sean Sherman of Owamni), the "walk-up slice" culture is non-existent.
What you get instead
- Walleye: It’s the state fish and it’s delicious. Flaky, light, and everywhere.
- Juicy Lucys: A burger with the cheese inside the meat. Matt’s Bar and the 5-8 Club have been feuding over who invented it for decades.
- Wild Rice: It’s a staple, and it’s actually a grass. It shows up in every soup and it’s fantastic.
- The State Fair: The Minnesota State Fair is an absolute titan. It’s the second-largest in the country and puts any county fair in Jersey to shame. Everything is on a stick. Everything.
Logistics: Making the 1,100 Mile Trek
Driving from Jersey to Minnesota usually means a long, soul-crushing stretch of I-80 through Pennsylvania and Ohio. It’s roughly 17 to 20 hours of driving depending on where you start.
If you’re hiring movers, be aware that "New Jersey to Minnesota" is a common route, but it’s long enough to trigger "interstate" regulations that can get pricey. Most major carriers like United Van Lines or North American will charge by weight and distance. For a three-bedroom house, expect to shell out between $5,000 and $9,000.
Pro tip: If you are driving a U-Haul, do not try to cross the mountains in Pennsylvania during a lake-effect snowstorm if you aren't experienced with a heavy load. It’s better to take the slightly longer southern route through Maryland and West Virginia if the weather looks dicey.
Career and Economy: The Corporate Powerhouse
Jersey is often defined by its proximity to NYC and Philly. People commute out.
Minnesota is a self-contained hub. For its population size, the Twin Cities has a staggering number of Fortune 500 companies. Target, 3M, UnitedHealth Group, General Mills, and Best Buy are all headquartered there.
The job market is incredibly stable. While NJ can feel the tremors of Wall Street crashes instantly, Minnesota’s economy is diversified across healthcare, retail, and manufacturing. The "hustle culture" is present, but it’s quieter. People value their "cabin time." If you tell your boss you’re heading "up north" on a Friday afternoon in July, they won't just understand—they’ll probably be jealous.
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Actionable Steps for Your Move
Transitioning between these two states requires more than just boxes. It requires a mental recalibration.
1. Purge your NJ wardrobe. Keep the heavy stuff, but ditch the "fashion" winter gear. Buy a coat from a brand like Columbia, North Face, or Patagonia that is specifically rated for sub-zero temps once you arrive. Local stores in MN carry higher-spec gear than the ones in NJ.
2. Update your vehicle. If you don't have All-Wheel Drive (AWD), consider trading in before you move or immediately after. More importantly, buy a set of dedicated snow tires (not all-seasons). In the slush of Jersey, all-seasons are fine. On the packed ice of a Minneapolis side street, you need the grip of real winter rubber.
3. Get your license and plates fast. Minnesota has strict requirements for transferring your out-of-state license (usually within 60 days). The DVS (not DMV) can have long wait times in the metro area, so book your appointment the week you arrive.
4. Embrace the "Lakes." There are 11,842 lakes in Minnesota. Not 10,000. Learn to use them. Whether it’s Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis or a tiny spot in Crow Wing County, the water is where the social life happens.
5. Prepare for the "Long Goodbye." When you leave a social gathering in Minnesota, there is a ritual called the "Midwestern Goodbye." It involves standing by the door talking for 20 minutes, then walking to the car and talking for another 10. Don't fight it. It’s how they show they like you.
Moving from New Jersey to Minnesota is a choice to trade intensity for stability. You’ll miss the pizza and the directness, but you might find that having a backyard that doesn't overlook a neighbor's siding is a fair trade. Just remember: when the temperature hits 30 degrees in April, people will be wearing shorts. Join them. It’s the only way to survive.