@PatKirby What are the taxes in New York and New Jersey?

@Musicman

Good question. This is how ChatGPT breaks it down...

New York vs. New Jersey taxes (2026 levels):

🗽 New York Taxes
1⃣ New York State Income Tax

Progressive system:

4% to 10.9%

Most middle-income earners fall between 5.5% – 6.5%

Higher earners climb quickly above 8%

2⃣ NYC City Income Tax (Important!)

If you live in NYC, you pay an additional:

3.078% – 3.876%

This is on top of state tax.

👉 Example:
If you earn $100,000 and live in NYC:

~6% state tax

~3.5% city tax
= ~9.5% total income tax before federal

If you work in NYC but live outside NYC (NJ, Long Island, Westchester):

You pay NY State tax

❌ You do NOT pay NYC city tax

That’s a big savings.

3⃣ Property Taxes in NY

Varies widely

NYC property taxes are moderate

Upstate NY can be very high

Often 1.4%–2.5% of home value

🌉 New Jersey Taxes
1⃣ New Jersey State Income Tax

Also progressive:

1.4% to 10.75%

Most middle-income earners pay around 5%–6.37%

Very high earners pay more than NY in some brackets

2⃣ No Local City Income Tax

New Jersey does NOT have city income tax like NYC.

That’s why many people live in:

Jersey City

Hoboken

Bergen County

But commute to Manhattan.

3⃣ Property Taxes (Here’s the Catch 😬)

New Jersey has:

Among the highest property taxes in the U.S.

Average effective rate ~2.2%+

On a $400,000 home → could be $8,800+ per year

That’s often the trade-off.

🔎 If You Work in NYC but Live in NJ

You typically:

Pay NY State income tax (because income was earned there)

File a NJ return

NJ gives credit for taxes paid to NY

Avoid NYC city tax entirely

That saves roughly 3–4% of income.

💰 Simple Comparison (Middle Income Example)

$100,000 salary:

Scenario Approx Total State/Local Income Tax
Live in NYC ~$9,000–$10,000
Live in NY State (not NYC) ~$6,000
Live in NJ, work in NYC ~$6,000 (no city tax)

Property taxes are the big differentiator when buying.

@PatKirby That is actually cheaper than I thought it would be. 🙂

@Adogslife very valid good points

@ElwoodBlues your definition of 'good' is broken

@ElwoodBlues
Not even. Woke Leftists want rich people to pay for social programs. So she wants these benefits for free, but also wants to complain about them.

@averageguy My definition of good schools is: students score well on the NAEP. My definition of good health care is greater life expectancy. Both of these things are easily measured; please explain what is wrong with my definitions.

@Bhs123 I understand Fl is an option but I don't understand why, genuinely . Plus it's super hot

@XxLaYanderexX You are smart to stay away from there. LoL

@XxLaYanderexX The Florida statistic is high because it's a haven for elders who move there in their later years and thus, being still alive, bump up the average.

@Nevertooold I wish it wasn't so bad cos it was definitely one of the cities of contemplated

@XxLaYanderexX The crime is out of control...way too much gun violence...way too many gangs....It's an awesome city except in winter....🥶🥶🥶

@basilfawlty89 @XxLaYanderexX Plus they tax the state to death paying for the City.

@basilfawlty89 long island is jhst Suburban NYC and pretty cringe


@Musicman
That's a common trope by mant of us upstaters, but the truth is its not true. NYC generates a far large share to state taxes than the rest of us do. The idea upstate pays for NYC is completely untrue.

@MethDozer Okay. That's just what my relatives tell us.

@dale74 good question.....I want to go to a place that has more job opportunities but I really like the idea one of the gentlemen gave me which was work in basically a big city but live far enough away, I don't feel it in my taxes. I have 2 years to make mind up but I really need to sit down and look into the places in considering

@XxLaYanderexX what kind of work are you looking for what skills do you already currently possess

@averageguy you know I thought about TN! it's such a pretty state, good jobs and all seasons 😃

@CreyvinMoorhead 🙄

@iwishuwerehere noooo lol I was taught to see that state as my nemesis when I lived in Michigan. BUT ya know what I'm gonna Google northern Wisconsin

@XxLaYanderexX
The wokies have cities here pretty screwed up too, especially the southern cities like Madison & Milwaukee. The smaller country towns aren’t woke at all

@XxLaYanderexX lol one of Maine's federal senators is a Republican

you should just move to the Dakotas, it's cold, it's MAGA, and then when the country splits into two countries, you can fend for yourselves instead of being subsidized by blue states

you might also prefer Russia

now your overall profile is making more sense