PCSing to New Jersey

Taxes for Military Families in New Jersey

New Jersey does not tax military pensions or survivor benefit payments, and combat pay is exempt. Active-duty pay is taxable for New Jersey residents, though nonresidents stationed in the state pay no New Jersey tax on military pay. The pain point is property tax: New Jersey's effective rates are the highest in the nation. The offset is significant — 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans receive a full property tax exemption on their primary residence, plus a smaller annual deduction for other honorably discharged veterans.

New Jersey Veteran Benefits Worth Knowing

• Full property tax exemption for 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans, plus a $250 annual deduction for other qualifying veterans
• No state income tax on military retirement pay or SBP
• Free tuition for eligible National Guard members at New Jersey public colleges, plus veteran tuition benefits
• Annual $6,000 state income tax exemption for veterans filing New Jersey returns

The New Jersey Housing Market for Military Buyers

The towns around Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst — Browns Mills, Pemberton, Wrightstown, and Jackson — are among New Jersey's most affordable, and BAH for the joint base is set with the pricier Philadelphia metro in mind, so the math can work well. Monmouth County near Earle and Morris County near Picatinny are considerably more expensive but hold value exceptionally well. Factor property taxes into every affordability calculation; they often exceed the principal-and-interest gap between towns.

Top School Districts & Counties in New Jersey

• Near JB MDL: Northern Burlington County Regional serves Mansfield and Chesterfield, popular with base families wanting stronger schools
• Jackson Township (Ocean County): a common pick east of the base with newer subdivisions and reasonable commutes
• Near Earle: Colts Neck, Marlboro, and Freehold Township in Monmouth County are among the state's best-regarded districts
• Near Picatinny: Rockaway Township, Denville, and Sparta (Morris/Sussex Counties) pair strong schools with wooded suburbs

Weather & Climate in New Jersey

Central New Jersey gets humid 90°F summers and winters with a few real snowstorms — nothing extreme, but nor'easters can drop heavy wet snow and knock out power, so buyers eye generators and mature-tree placement. The bigger issue is water: shore-adjacent Ocean and Monmouth County towns include FEMA flood zones with meaningful insurance costs, a lasting lesson of Sandy. Inland near the joint base, high water tables make basement sump pumps and grading worth a close look at inspection.

Traffic & Commutes in New Jersey

Around JB MDL, local commutes from Browns Mills, Pemberton, or Jackson run 15-30 minutes, but Route 539 and County Route 616 back up at gate hours. Living toward Philadelphia or the shore adds serious time on I-295 or Route 70. Earle commuters fight Route 34 and Route 18 congestion; Colts Neck and Howell keep it short. Picatinny sits off I-80, one of the state's most congested corridors — living in Rockaway or Denville beats commuting from points east.