Survey: NJ Has Highest Number of Outbound Moves [AUDIO]

A new study by the nation's largest household moving company finds New Jersey tops the list when it comes to the number of outbound moves. 

According to the 37th annual migration study by United Van Lines, New Jersey has the highest percentage of outbound moves in the county, with 63 percent.  New York, West Virginia, Connecticut and Illinois also have a high percentage of outbound moves.

"The reason that people leave New Jersey is basically cost of living.  We have some of the highest property taxes, we have relatively high income taxes, sales taxes and the like," said James Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University.

He said when older baby boomers leave the labor force, some choose to move to another area of the country where the cost of living is much lower.

"And then you do have the really affluent who want to park their resources elsewhere so New Jersey doesn't tax them, " Hughes said.

One popular state among middle class households to move to is Pennsylvania, said Hughes, because almost everything is cheaper there.

So who's moving to New Jersey?

"They are very affluent, they have a new job in Manhattan or they're working for corporate America and are transferred to New Jersey. They're usually higher income people who can enter into the New Jersey housing market," Hughes said.

Oregon was the top moving destination state for 2013, followed by South Carolina and North Carolina.