NJ Ranked #2 in the US for Best State to Live!

Apparently, the rest of the country is finally catching on....

A new WalletHub ranking just named New Jersey the second-best state to live in the entire country. 

Yes, lil' old us in New Jersey....

The state everyone loves to make fun of. 

The state of traffic, tolls, property taxes, the mafia (shhh, who said that?!) and the occasional Turnpike smell you would rather not investigate...

And yet, here we are at #2! (we'll take it!)

As someone born and raised in New Jersey, I try not to ever take for granted everything NJ has to offer. 

We are a true melting pot. 

You can have an Italian bakery, a Korean barbecue spot, an Indian restaurant, a Dominican restaurant and the best Baklava you've ever had all within a few miles of each other. 

We have some of the best food in the country, and Jersey people will argue about which pizza and bagel place is better with greater intensity than they will about politics.

We have the Jersey Shore, from quiet beaches to the boardwalks, and we have mountains, lakes, parks and waterfalls all within a short drive of one another.

(And as much as Jersey Shore was an annoying stereotype for us Jersey people, can we at least stop pretending like it wasn't a great show?! lol) 

And speaking of Jersey shows... of course, The Sopranos.

As the proud home of The Gabagool, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the show that put NJ on the map in a very specific way. The Sopranos gave the rest of the world a glimpse into our neighborhoods, strip malls, pork stores, diners and unmistakable Jersey attitude.

But beyond the stereotypes and pop culture, the numbers tell a pretty compelling story.

NJ Safety, Healthcare, Quality of Life

WalletHub's latest study evaluated all 50 states across dozens of measures, including safety, healthcare, education, quality of life and affordability. 

New Jersey ranked first in the country for safety, has one of the nation's highest median household incomes and scores particularly well in health and education.

Of course, still, we can't talk about living in New Jersey without acknowledging the elephant in the room: it is expensive. 

Our property taxes and cost of living are real, and the ranking actually puts New Jersey near the bottom when it comes to affordability.

But maybe that's part of the bigger story...

People aren't paying to live here simply because they like the state flag.

They are paying for access to incredible schools, jobs, healthcare, beaches, cities, parks, food, culture and communities, all within a relatively small geographic footprint.

You can spend the morning hiking, the afternoon at the beach and the evening eating at a diner that somehow has a 12-page menu (and I will always be ordering my two eggs over light with bacon and rye toast at any time in the day or night). 

YES, THE DINERS!! Real diners. The kind where you can order pancakes at 2 PM, chicken soup at 9 PM and disco fries at 2AM!

I've spent my entire life here, so maybe I'm biased.

But as a Jersey girl, I'll gladly take #2.

And if Idaho wants to keep #1, that's fine. I don't like potatoes that much really, so I will not be moving there at any point in my lifetime... lol. 

We'll be over here at the diner, arguing about who has the better pizza.

What do you think of this ranking?! What's your favorite Jersey thing?