New Jersey’s financial worries may not be as bad as we think

When you think of financial distress, what's the first thing that comes to your mind? It might be a handful of things depending on your situation.

Probably the most common one though might be this simple question. How am I going to pay for this? That could relate to groceries, utilities, mortgage, rent, or pretty much everything in general.

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When it comes to New Jersey, it's very easy to relate to this. Not only are some living in the Garden State worried about how they're going to financially make it to the next month, they're also worried about how expensive New Jersey is just to live in.

New Jersey is expensive, but...

Although we can all relate to the high taxes of this state, apparently we're much better off financially then we give ourselves credit for. At least, according to the latest WalletHub study we are.

Think about this age old statement for just a moment. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. In fact, sometimes that grass is downright dead. It's like when you get a new job only to discover it's not what you initially thought it would be.

When it comes to this study, think of it like moving out of state to escape financial distress. The lawn on New Jersey's side of the fence is apparently a bit greener than we initially thought.

Higher inflation

What's even more amazing about this study is the fact that things are getting more expensive. Just look at inflation as a prime example.

According to the latest reporting, inflation has risen to 3% in September 2025. That's up slightly from the August 2025 numbers.

And although not sky high, it still hits us in the wallet. Fortunately, New Jersey isn't one of the hardest hit states despite feeling like it is.

New Jerseyans are in good shape

According to the latest results, New Jersey is the 44th most financially distressed state in the nation. That means the citizens in 43 other states are having a harder time meeting their financial obligations then we are.

The state where it's citizens are experiencing the most financial distress is Texas. As for the least? Surprisingly, that's Hawaii (full study results can be found here).

The above post reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 weekend host & content contributor Mike Brant. Any opinions expressed are his own.