Born a Jersey girl, and loved living there. All those stories about how awful NJ is - we make them up so people won't move here!
The big problem with NJ is the taxes. (Those stories are true!) Had to move to SC where the taxes are much lower. We love our home and have become 'vacation central' for the rest of the family who are still in NJ. Nonetheless, we go back and forth to NJ at least monthly because we haven't sold the NJ house yet. My sister lives in it and pays the taxes for us - we both benefit from that!
Hint for anyone thinking of moving to a different state: Rent a house or apartment for 6 months in the city and state you're thinking of moving to. If you like it, then move. If you don't, you just go back home.