This is an interesting statistic that is worth taking the time to really think about and try to break down.
There are two issues that I feel are critical when dissecting this phenomenon. New Jersey tends be to home to many affluent residents. As a result, it tends to be expensive to live here. Homes are often much more expensive than in other regions of the country, and taxes are notoriously high.
New Jersey also tends to be home to quite a few impoverished regions and many individuals living close to, at, or below the poverty line. I am sure it can be very difficult to afford living in New Jersey without a decent income.
Areas with the most job opportunities cost the most to live in. Poor people who worked in Manhattan used to live in Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, North Bergen, Brooklyn, Queens, etc. Some of these areas are wholly unaffordable for lower income residents and others are quickly reaching that point.
A train pass to NYC from farther out in New Jersey can add up to hundreds of dollars per month. For the $120,000/year employee this isn't a big deal, but to the man working a low paying job, a few hundred dollars per month can mean the world.
I have not researched this issue, but my intuition tells me that the poor may not make up as large a penetrate of New Jersey expatriots as one might think. New Jersey is home to many college graduates in their mid twenties to early thirties who have good jobs, but pay $1,500-$3,000/month to live in or around NJ.
Picking up and moving isn't easy for a poor person. It isn't nearly as difficult for many young, college-educated, already-employed residents. In fact, for many, it is a fun journey.
So many of the people I grew up with now live in other states. We have New York and Philadelphia right over the border which also draws in huge numbers of NJ residents. Moving from Bayonne to New York doesn't seem so much like expatriation as it does like a quick move across the river. Of those who really did move away, Denver, Portland, Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco all seem to be big hits.
Having said all that, I have traveled much of the world, and much of this country. I adore New Jersey. It is one of my favorite states of all, and I genuinely mean that.
We have tons of immigrants, many of whom go back a very long time in this country. I experienced great sadness to learn that 99% of the country is desolate when it comes to good Italian food. I'm hungry so I will talk about food for a while but I should also note that New Jersey's immigrants have offered us much more than just great food but also a rich culture. We have Irish pubs owned by Irish speakin Irishmen who serve Guinness that they get from a good source in the home country. You know it will always be fresh and served right. We have Korean food galore. We have Greeks and their diners. We have Jews and bagels, lox, etc. we have authentic Mexican food, historic African American communities with amazing barbecue, a great jazz scene, etc.
It really is unbelievable how much culture has been packed into this tiny little state. We have an amazing coastline and a completely distinct culture that exists there. And no, I'm not talking about the TV bullshit but about the real people and way of live in some of those towns. We have Asbury Park with all of it's amazing music and culture, we have island beach state park with its quiet beauty and adorable foxes. Then we have the pine barrens. Nobody thinks about the pine barrens when they think about New Jersey. Nobody thinks about the rural areas. NJ has a legitimate "country" aspect for such a small northern state.
We have Lambertville, one of the most beautiful small towns in the world. We have Princeton with its beauty and rich history. Then we have suburban sprawl. And old industrial cities. And a rapidly rising waterfront across from the city.
The people here tend to be really cool as well. I generally like New Jersey people. Sure, we have our assholes, but overall were a pretty neat bunch. Great musicians come from here. Great artists. Actors. Scientists.