Jersey offers better schools, superior public transit, and urban city life to its residents. In contrast, Albuquerque has lower living and housing costs and is culturally rich but has higher crime and unemployment rates. Thus, Jersey is a better place than Albuquerque.
Albuquerque, the state’s biggest metropolis, is next to the Sandia Mountains and crosses the Rio Grande. The city is an unassuming and simple place to call home, rich in Spanish and Native American history and culture and surrounded by natural beauty.
In Hudson County, Jersey City is a medium-sized city in New Jersey. There’s always a new restaurant to explore in the city, and the neighborhood has a lively nightlife.
Jersey City has a dense metropolitan feel, and it may be a fast-paced environment where people often live and work together.
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What are the Pros and Cons of Albuquerque vs. Jersey?
Jersey has a vibrant nightlife, above-average schools, and low gas prices, but rodents and high taxes are significant issues. Albuquerque, by contrast, is inexpensive, culturally intact, and has low taxes, but it also has heinous offenses and unemployment problems.
Living in Albuquerque
Pros
- Albuquerque BioPark, perfect for families
- Ride the Sandia Peak tramway
- The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
- Inexpensive expenses
- Affordable taxes
- ABQ has a property tax rate of only 0.96%, which is lower than the national average of 1.21%.
- 7.88% is the sales tax rate in ABQ, somewhat more than the national average of 7.3%.
- Albuquerque’s state income tax rate varies from 1.7% to 4.9%, depending on your tax bracket.
- An easy rush hour commute
Tingley Beach, the Rio Grande Zoo, the Rio Grande Botanical Gardens, and the Albuquerque Aquarium are all located in the ABQ BioPark, which is in Old Town.
The zoo has turned into a star attraction with hundreds of species and one fantastic playground with its recent extension and enhancements.
The aquarium is excellent for youngsters who want to learn about sharks, and the botanical garden is a beautiful place to see butterflies and other creatures. Tingley Beach features three permitted public fishing ponds and pedal boat rentals.
The ABQ BioPark is a fantastic spot for a full-day family outing.
The Sandia Mountains, which frame the skyline to the east, are not as high as the Colorado Rockies, but they are no shrinking violets. The craggy peak of the mountain, at 10,378 feet, provides a spectacular perspective of expansive Albuquerque.
The tramway provides a breathtaking journey over a 2.7-mile hanging cable from the city’s eastern side to the peak. You can see for hundreds of kilometers all around you.
Hikers who are bold and well-prepared can climb the 7.5-mile La Luz Trail to the summit and then ride the tramway back down to get some exercise.
The tramway serves the Sandia Peak Ski Resort in the winter.
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, two miles north of Old Town, features a fantastic museum and cultural events, seminars, workshops, and tours, all of which honor these live cultures and histories.
The on-site Pueblo Harvest Café, a restaurant and bakery recognized for its New Native American cuisine is also worth mentioning. The cultural center and cafe perfectly represent how Albuquerque preserves their rich culture.
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, two miles north of Old Town, features a fantastic museum and cultural events, seminars, workshops, and tours, all of which honor these live cultures and histories.
The on-site Pueblo Harvest Café, a restaurant and bakery recognized for its New Native American cuisine is also worth mentioning. The cultural center and cafe perfectly represent how Albuquerque preserves their rich culture.
Albuquerque’s tax rates are relatively modest, and relocating from another city will undoubtedly save you money on taxes.
Albuquerque rush hour commutes are among the easiest in the country compared to other metro regions of comparable size. A daily journey on I-40 takes only 15 to 20 minutes, but the average one-way travel takes 21.3 minutes.
New Mexico came in second after Mississippi for minor traffic congestion due to its desert temperature and lack of wet days, making commutes less stressful.
Cons
- Unemployment problem
- Criminal activities
In recent years, New Mexico has struggled with high unemployment rates. Various cities around the country are attempting to find answers. The city of Albuquerque is hardly an exception.
Albuquerque’s unemployment rate reached 53,133 persons in July 2020. In the metropolitan region, there are currently 29,118 fewer jobless persons.
Albuquerque’s unemployment rate declined 0.1 percentage points to 5.5in November 2021. The metro’s unemployment rate was 0.7 percentage points lower than New Mexico’s in the same month.
ABQ was named #9 on the list of the most dangerous cities in 2020, slightly ahead of Stockton, Memphis, St. Louis, and Detroit. The crime rate in Albuquerque has increased by 6% year over year.
Living in Jersey
Pros
- Diversity
- Lively nightlife
- Above-average schools
- Food variety
- Lower unemployment rate than ABQ
- Superior public transport
- Low gas prices
The variety of the people is one of the significant advantages of living here. It’s not simply about race or cultural differences.
Jersey is a city that welcomes visitors from all walks of life. This city is home to everyone, from working professionals to young families to older folks.
Moving to Jersey allows you to immerse yourself in numerous cultures and encounter a diverse range of individuals. The city’s diversified population impacts its food, including specialties from several nations and continents.
Jersey is a city that caters to both families and professionals. The town isn’t some drab metropolis where everything dies at night. Evenings in Jersey may be a lot of fun.
Jersey has a large number of restaurants, clubs, and pubs. There are so many clubs here that you could live here for a lifetime and still have some clubs you haven’t seen. As a result, if you’re searching for a town with a vibrant social scene, Jersey is the place to be.
Many of Jersey City’s schools receive excellent ratings. It’s no surprise that New Jersey is ranked as the second-best state for education in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.
In addition, most of Jersey City’s public schools are rated average or above average. Dr. Ronald Mc Nair Academy High School is the highest-ranking school in the district.
Cornelia F Bradford No 16 Elementary School and Infinity Institute are two more excellent schools.
You can get real Portuguese food in Newark’s Ironbound District, delicious Chinese food in Fort Lee, delectable Korean cuisine in Palisades Park, out-of-this-world Indian food in Journal Square’s Little India, Italian food in every direction, and much more in Jersey City.
Jersey City has a slightly higher unemployment rate of 4.2% than the national unemployment rate of 3.9%. Compared to ABQ’s 5.5%, Jersey has a lower unemployment rate. Moreover, the employment market has shrunk by 0.5% in the previous year.
Healthcare, technical services, banking, insurance, and retail are among the leading sectors in Jersey City.
Using public transport is not a problem when you are in the city. You may go by bus or rail to any location within the city limits and beyond. Jersey City’s public transportation is superior to that of other American cities.
By bus or rail, every section of the city is well connected. If you get trapped on one, don’t worry; the other will be close after.
Jersey City has some of the worst traffic in the country. Residents take public transportation to avoid traffic and stress. That’s why it’s best to take public transportation whenever feasible.
Jersey is not the most affordable city. However, some products aren’t as expensive as in other parts of the world. The most prominent is gas. No one knows why, but petrol prices are meager here, allowing you to save money on your gas costs.
Cons
- Costly living and housing expenses
- High taxes
- Rodents
Jersey City is one of New Jersey’s most expensive cities. The cost of living in the city is 46.8% greater than the national average. That puts it much above even the state average. Everything is more expensive here.
As a result, you should be earning more to meet the expenses. But, of course, it all depends on where you’re staying in the city. There are still areas in the town where items are significantly less expensive.
Houses in Jersey City are significantly more expensive than the national and state averages. A residence in the city costs, on average, $573,036. Rents are similarly pricey, with the average rent being $2,779.
There are areas where houses and rentals are less expensive. The pricing, however, will vary by neighborhood.
All of New Jersey’s cities have high taxes. Given the high cost of living in this city, spending a significant portion of your taxes increases the expense.
Jersey City is located in Hudson County and has a 2.31% property tax rate.
Because there are no natural predators, the rat population in the city continues to grow, and you’ll have to deal with it. In addition, rats are more likely to be found in your residence during the winter as they seek refuge from the cold.
Albuquerque or Jersey – Which is more expensive?
The living expenses in Jersey are 61.1% overall more expensive than Albuquerque. Housing costs are 138.5% higher in Jersey. In addition, food, groceries, health, utilities, and transportation are much cheaper in Albuquerque.
| Living expenses | Jersey | Albuquerque |
| Housing | 209.9% | 88.0% |
| Food & Groceries | 96.0% | 96.0% |
| Health | 91.5% | 81.1% |
| Utilities | 97.2% | 97.2% |
| Transportation | 153.7% | 89.4% |
Data is 100 = US National Average
> 100 means more expensive than the national average
< 100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing Cost
Housing expenses in Jersey are 138.5% higher than in ABQ. The median home price in ABQ is $332,426, while Jersey’s median home price is $655,295.
Food & Groceries
Food and grocery prices in Jersey are higher than in Albuquerque. One example is the price of 1 gallon of regular milk in Albuquerque, which is only $3.13, compared to $4.20 in Jersey.
Health
Healthcare costs in Jersey are 12.8% more costly than in Jersey. In Jersey, a dentist visit may cost $96.06, whereas it only costs $99.14 in Albuquerque.
Utilities
In ABQ, the monthly phone bill can only cost $142.85. Compared to Jersey, a monthly phone bill costs $198.02.
Transportation
A one-way ticket for local transport in Jersey can cost you more than ABQ. In Jersey, a one-way ticket costs $2.75, while in Albuquerque, it is only $1.00.
Is Albuquerque bigger than Jersey?
Albuquerque is approximately more than eight times the size of Jersey, with a land area of 188.9 mi². Also, Albuquerque has a larger population. However, Jersey has a more substantial economy than Albuquerque.
ABQ is approximately more than eight times the size of Jersey in terms of land area.
Jersey has a land area of only 21.13 mi² with a 301,690 population as of 2022. In comparison, Albuquerque has 188.9 mi² and, as of 2022, has a denser population of 942,000.
Therefore, ABQ is more prominent and has a denser population than Jersey.
Besides land area and population, Jersey has a substantial economy, unlike Albuquerque. Both cities have a higher unemployment rate than the national average. For comparison, Jersey has a lower unemployment rate than Albuquerque.
Is Jersey safer than Albuquerque?
ABQ has a crime index of 70.76, whereas Jersey only has 44.08. In addition, Jersey has a higher safety score than Albuquerque. As a result, Jersey is a safer city than Albuquerque.
Jersey City has a heinous crime rate of 26.3%, which is somewhat higher than the national average of 22.7%. A property crime rate of 27.1% is slightly lower than the national average of 35.4%.
On the other hand, ABQ has a higher crime rate than Jersey. Albuquerque’s crime rate is greater than 99% of New Mexico’s border cities, which is a cause for concern. ABQ is only safer than 1% of the cities in the United States.
Albuquerque has a crime index of 70.76, while Jersey only has 44.08. Regarding the safety scale, Jersey has a larger scale of 55.92, whereas ABQ only has 29.34.
Therefore, Albuquerque is a less safe city than Jersey.
Is Jersey hotter than Albuquerque?
Jersey’s annual average high temperature is 85°F. In comparison, Albuquerque has a higher average yearly high temperature of 93°F. Jersey is, therefore, less hot than Albuquerque.
Jersey’s summer season is hot, humid, and rainy; winters are frigid, snowy, and windy; the weather is partially overcast all year. The temperature ranges typically from 27°F to 85°F throughout the year, with temperatures seldom falling below 14°F or rising over 93°F.
On the other hand, ABQ has a year-round temperature range of 27°F to 93°F, with temperatures seldom dropping below 18°F or surpassing 99°F.
ABQ’s average sunny days per year is 280, whereas Jersey only has an estimated 217 sunny days per year.
Hence, Albuquerque is hotter than Jersey.
Is Albuquerque better than Jersey?
If you prefer to move to a city with an affordable cost of living and lower taxes, Albuquerque is the city for you. In contrast, Jersey is for those who seek a better economy and above-average schools.
Albuquerque is notorious for its affordable living. Compared to Jersey, the prices in ABQ are way lower. The city also has lesser traffic issues and preserves its Native American culture despite this modern times.
However, Albuquerque is behind Jersey’s economy, school, crimes, and unemployment rate.
On the other hand, Jersey City is a fun city. It boasts a variety of benefits, including a sound transportation system, nightlife, attractions, and low gas prices.
But don’t be shocked if you arrive and find things aren’t quite as they seem. Living costs, rodent infestation, noise, traffic, and tax load are all disadvantages.
Despite its flaws, though, this city provides many advantages for you. Jersey has way lesser crime rates than Albuquerque. On top of that, it offers an urban city life to its residents.
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