The majority of New Jersey residents continue to give positive ratings to their home state even if their overall views on the quality of life have dropped significantly among urban residents.
That’s according to a new Monmouth University Poll, which found stability among suburbanites’ ratings of their quality of life. The index is based on five separate poll questions: overall opinion of the state as a place to live – which contributes half the index score – and ratings of one’s hometown, the performance of local schools, the quality of the local environment, and feelings of safety in one’s own neighborhood.
Monmouth’s Garden State Quality of Life Index score was at +24, which was slightly lower from the +27 rating reported in 2022. The number had reached +37 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. The index can potentially range from –100 to +100.
Urban Double-Digit Drop
The poll noted that in prior years the index ranged between +18 and +31, with an outlying lowpoint of +13 encountered in February 19. Urban residents saw the index score drop 15 points year-over year, falling to zero in January 2023 from +15 in April 2022.
However, the number only declined 2 points to +29 for those who live in stable growth towns and increased 2 points to +33 for those in the suburbs.
A Continuing Trend
Monmouth University clarified that although the disparity between these types of communities had been evident since initiating the Garden State Quality of Life Index in 2010, the current dynamic was the most pronounced.
“We always see some fluctuations in Monmouth’s Garden State Quality of Life Index, but it’s important for policymakers to take note when the views of different groups start to diverge this noticeably,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute. “A sense of unrest can develop from the perception that others are doing better than you.”
Larger than average drops in Monmouth’s index since last year have also occurred among New Jerseyans who make less than $50,000 a year (to +7 from +18), those age 55 and older (to +22 from +31), Black and Hispanic residents (to +15 from +23), and those who live in the Delaware Valley region (to +19 from +27 ).
I ❤️ New Jersey
Despite politicians decrying the cost-of-living crisis within the state, the majority of New Jerseyans said the state was an excellent (18%) or good (45%) to live.
That’s contrasted by 25% who rate the state as a fair place to live, and 12% who rated it as poor.
Although the 63% positive number is below the 64% reported in 2022, it was also above the 59% reported in 2021. The number hit 68% in 2020 during the early parts of the pandemic.
Turning to other metrics that make up the Garden State Quality of Life Index, more than 3 in 4 New Jerseyans rate their own town or city as an excellent (34%) or good (43%) place to live. The 77% positive hometown rating is slightly higher than recent polls (73% in 2022 and 76% in 2021).
Nj is crowded, polluted and run by corrupt politicians and their lackeys; the schools are mediocre; look, the rich like Gov. Phil Murphy send their kids to private schools, the roads are dangerous, parks are overgrown, no public bathrooms, and the highest property taxes in the country; mass transportation is slow and bad: NJ should be a -100.
WELL; WELLNOW; This here Pole is is stating what many NJ’ians have knowed for’n quite some times, that NJ is becoming another cesspool like its neighbor NYC!! In the CITY there are them that have it all & Live well; & then there are thems that are just surviving!! What Bad News!! See; No news, most always can be Good News!!//