Moving from New Jersey to Texas
You are trading the highest property taxes in America and a top income-tax rate near 10.75% for a state with no income tax at all. Here is the honest money, the laws, and where New Jersey families are landing.
Get matched with a Texas agent or call 800-277-5487Two of the country's heaviest tax burdens, left behind at once
New Jersey is one of the few states that pairs a high, graduated income tax with the highest effective property tax rate in the nation. Families leaving usually are not chasing one number; they are done paying both. Texas removes the income tax entirely and gives you room, jobs, and communities that share your values on the other end.
What actually changes on your tax bill
The clean win is income tax. New Jersey's income tax climbs into the 6% range for many households and tops out near 10.75% at the high end. Texas has none. For a two-earner family or a business owner, that alone is often the largest single line item that simply disappears.
Property tax is more nuanced, and we would rather you hear it straight. New Jersey's effective property tax rate is the highest in the country, running above 2%. Texas is lower, generally in the 1.6% to 1.8% range, and the state homestead exemption knocks $100,000 off your home's value for school taxes. So Texas is a real improvement on property tax, not a magic escape from it.
The honest part
Texas property tax, even after the drop from New Jersey, is still among the highest in the nation. Do not move expecting a low-property-tax state. The genuine savings come from erasing the income tax and, usually, buying more home for the money. Your agent will run your specific numbers before you commit to a county.
A state that governs the way you already live
Second Amendment
Texas is a constitutional-carry state with strong protections for lawful gun owners.
School choice
Texas has moved toward education savings accounts and remains friendly to homeschooling families.
Governance
A Republican trifecta with a long record of low taxes, light regulation, and a pro-growth posture.
Four regions New Jersey movers choose most
Dallas–Fort Worth
The deepest job market in the state. Collin and Denton counties north of Dallas are the classic landing spot for relocating families.
Houston & suburbs
Energy, medicine, and master-planned communities in places like The Woodlands and Katy, with strong value per square foot.
Austin & the Hill Country
Tech jobs and outdoor living. Pricier than the rest of Texas, so your agent will point you to the value pockets.
San Antonio
Lower cost of living, deep military roots, and a slower pace while staying in a major metro.
The trade-offs, up front
Summers are long and hot, and July and August ask something of you if you are used to the Northeast. Property tax, as noted, is real. Home insurance in coastal and hail-prone areas has risen. None of this changes the math for most families leaving New Jersey, but you should walk in with your eyes open, which is exactly what our agents are for.
One team on both ends
The hard part of a move like this is not finding a house. It is running a sale in New Jersey and a purchase in Texas on one timeline. We coordinate both sides: a vetted listing agent where you are and a vetted, values-aligned buyer's agent in Texas.
Our referral service is free to you. We earn a referral fee from the partner agent only when your move closes, at no additional cost to you, and that agent represents you under your own separate agreement. Keep a listing agent you already trust if you have one, and we will handle the Texas side.
New Jersey to Texas, answered
Will I really pay no state income tax in Texas?
Yes. Texas has no state income tax on wages or personal income. You will still owe federal tax, and Texas funds services largely through property and sales taxes, but the state income tax you pay in New Jersey goes away entirely.
Is Texas property tax higher than New Jersey's?
No. New Jersey has the highest effective property tax rate in the country, above 2%. Texas is lower, generally 1.6% to 1.8%, with a $100,000 school-tax homestead exemption. Texas property tax is still high by national standards, so the biggest savings usually come from losing the income tax.
Where do most New Jersey families move in Texas?
The suburbs north of Dallas, in Collin and Denton counties, are the most common landing spot, followed by the Houston and San Antonio suburbs. Your agent matches the region to your budget, commute, and community priorities.
Should I sell my New Jersey home first or buy in Texas first?
It depends on your equity, financing, and timeline. We coordinate both transactions so they line up, and your agents will walk you through sell-first versus buy-first based on your specific situation.
What does Conservative Move cost?
Nothing. Our referral service is free to you. We earn a referral fee from the partner agent only when your move closes, at no additional cost to you, and the agent represents you under a separate agreement.
Your next community is waiting
Tell us where you are in New Jersey and where you want to be in Texas. We match you with a vetted Texas agent, usually within one business day.
Get matched with a Texas agentPrefer to talk? Call 800-277-5487.
