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And majority of parents with children would like to bail, poll finds

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

When it comes to their plans to reside in New Jersey for the rest of their lives or to eventually leave the state, the majority of residents under age 70 — four people out of five — want out.

This less than favorable finding about New Jerseyans outlook toward the quality of life in the state is the highlight of a Monmouth University poll made public Thursday.

The poll finds significant differences among the age groups when it comes to the desire to stay or go.

Having children under the age of 18 also increases the likelihood that a person would like to leave. Among New Jerseyans with children under the age of 18, 59 percent would like to leave the state eventually, while only 46 percent of those without children say the same. While parents tend to be younger adults, age does not fully explain the higher desire of parents to leave the state. Across all age categories, New Jersey parents under 70 are 5 to 8 percent more likely to say that they would like to leave the state someday.

Young adults and senior citizens join in giving generally higher ratings to New Jersey’s quality of life but middle-aged residents are not as positive.

The survey included questions on residents’ financial situation. When asked directly if their family often has trouble making ends meet, the survey finds no differences between residents with children under the age of 18 and those who do not have minor children.

The only difference is regarding age. Overall, fewer than one in five New Jerseyans report frequent problems making ends meet, with both the youngest and oldest residents being less likely than middle-aged residents to experience the problem. Among those 18 to 29 years old, 11 percent say they often have trouble making ends meet and among those age 70 or older, 9 percent say the same. Residents between 30 and 49 (19 percent) as well as 50 to 69 (18 percent) are somewhat more likely to experience that situation.

When New Jerseyans were asked how satisfied they are with their standard of living, again age makes a difference. Among those 70 or older, 41 percent are very satisfied, but among those 50 to 69 only 25 percent say the same, and the number drops further to 19 percent for 30 to 49 year olds. The number goes back up to 29 percent for New Jersey’s youngest adults between 18 and 29 years old.

The fifth installment of the university’s poll on New Jersey’s quality of life also found that gender and parental status hold little sway over residents’ view of their home state. The poll evaluates residents’ outlook toward their hometowns, schools, the environment, and crime.

Overall, there are few differences between men and women in how they view New Jersey’s quality of life. The index finds women have a slightly higher (+23) index score than men (+20), but both are close to the statewide average of +21. There is even less of a difference between parents with children under the age of 18 (+21) and those who currently do not have any minor children (+22). This similarity holds regardless of the parent’s gender.

Age is a key factor, though, in assessing the state’s quality of life. The oldest and youngest New Jersey adults tend to give answers that score high on the index. Among the youngest adults, those between 18 and 29, the index stands at +27 and among those over the age of 70, it stands at +32. The index score is below the state average for both 30 to 49 year olds (+19) and 50 and 69 year olds (+17).

“It’s interesting that having a child at home does not significantly impact how residents view their state,” Prof. Patrick Murray, the poll’s director, said. “The stresses of raising a child in a high-cost state like New Jersey may be offset by the many advantages their home state offers. Perhaps even more interesting is the role that age plays in assessing New Jersey’s quality of life. Younger adults start off with a relatively more positive view, which dips through their middle-age years, only to rebound considerably as they enter retirement.”

The survey also asked residents to rate their local area as a place to raise a family. Overall, 26 percent of New Jerseyans rate their area as excellent, 48 percent as good, 16 percent as fair, and 9 percent as poor. There is no difference on the question between parents of minor children (26 percent excellent and 47 percent good) and those who do not have children under the age of 18 (26 percent excellent and 48 percent good).