Often the butt of jokes from visitors from neighboring states and negative stereotypes from television shows like The Sopranos, despite all that, New Jersey continues to attract people seeking high-paying jobs, health care, and high-quality education. quality, amazing leisure activities and a great place to raise children.

I quickly recognize that New Jersey is not an affordable state to live in. The definition of best does not mean “cheap” or “inexpensive”.

While you may be paying more, New Jersey has the best state and city services in the country that contribute to an infrastructure that supports a safe environment and a variety of quality-of-life services. As a wise old man once told me, “You get what you pay for.”

The top five reasons New Jersey is the best state to live in.

Health care – By almost any measure, NJ is at the top of any list of states with the best health care. Ranked #1 in Lowest (Best) Population Underserved by Primary Care Physicians and Ranked 7th in Lowest Infant Mortality Rate in 48 States. Source: AARP. It ranked 8th out of 50 states in number of physicians/1000. Source: US Census Bureau. 2004-2006 data. And across the river in New York and Philadelphia, New Jerseyans have access to some of the best medical institutions and doctors in the world.

low crime rate – Ranked 4th for property crimes and 13th for violent crimes out of 31 states east of the Mississippi River. Source: US Census Bureau. 2004-2006 data. And when you consider that New Jersey has the highest population density in the US, New Jersey is a very safe place to live and is a credit to the state and municipalities in protecting against crime and law enforcement. .

Student Education Grades K-12 – New Jersey excels when it comes to education; New Jersey ranks No. 1 out of 50 states for graduation rates from grade 8 to high school; Source: National Board and Educational Testing Policy and Ranked #4 in lowest (best) student/teacher ratio. Source: IES National Center for Educational Statistics.

Entertainment- New Jersey is the mecca of entertainment. Due to the state’s small size, world-class entertainment is within the reach of most New Jerseyans. There are major entertainment venues throughout the state, as well as the hotel’s casino, and Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey is a magnet for world-class entertainment. New Jersey also has 2 NFL teams, an NBA team, and an NHL team. And with New York City and Philadelphia just across the river with Broadway shows and major entertainment venues, the entertainment options for New Jerseyans are second to none.

Geographic Diversity – With exceptional beaches like Wildwood, which are the best on the East Coast, beautiful hills and mountains in Northwest New Jersey, and quaint Victorian towns like Cape May, New Jersey’s diverse geography is easily accessible within an hour’s drive from almost anywhere in the state. National Geographic magazine has called New Jersey “America in Miniature”.