Despite the jokes and criticism often directed at the state, 7 in 10 New Jersey residents take pride in calling the Garden State home, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Tuesday.
The survey found that 70% of New Jersey adults feel at least some pride in living in the state, evenly divided between 35% who feel “a lot” of pride and 35% who feel “some” pride.
Another 17% said they take “a little” pride in living in New Jersey, while 11% said they take no pride at all.
“New Jersey has a bit of a reputation and is often the butt of jokes throughout the rest of the country, but residents don’t let that ruin the love they have for the Garden State,” said Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University.
Majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents expressed at least some pride in living in New Jersey, although Democrats displayed the strongest attachment to the state.
Among Democrats, 79% said they feel either “a lot” or “some” pride, compared with 67% of independents and 63% of Republicans. Democrats were also the most likely to express “a lot” of pride, at 46%, compared with 29% of independents and 28% of Republicans.
Pride also varies by household income. Residents earning between $100,000 and $150,000 reported the highest level of pride, with 77% expressing at least some pride. That included 39% who feel “a lot” of pride and 38% who feel “some” pride.
Among residents earning less than $50,000, 76% expressed at least some pride, as did 72% of those earning between $50,000 and $100,000. Residents with household incomes above $150,000 were the least likely income group to express pride, at 62%.
Older residents showed the strongest attachment to the state. Among adults age 65 and older, 77% said they feel either a lot or some pride in New Jersey. The figure was 71% among both residents ages 18 to 34 and those ages 50 to 64. Adults ages 35 to 49 reported the lowest level, at 64%.
Women were slightly more likely than men to express pride in living in New Jersey, 73% to 68%.
Residents with graduate-level education reported the highest level of pride among education groups, at 75%. They were followed by residents with some college education at 72% and those with a high school diploma or less at 69%. College graduates reported the lowest level, at 65%.
Geographic differences were minimal. Seventy percent of suburban and exurban residents expressed at least some pride, compared with 69% of urban residents. Philadelphia/South Jersey and Shore residents reported the highest regional levels, at 72% each.
Black residents were the most likely racial or ethnic group to say they feel “a lot” of pride in living in New Jersey, at 45%. They were followed by Hispanic residents at 38%, White residents at 34%, and residents identifying with another race or ethnicity at 29%.
“The vast majority of residents, across party lines, income brackets and every corner of the state, still say they are proud to live here,” Koning said. “We may love to complain about our state, but there is a reason ‘We’re from Jersey, baby’ became a rallying cry. Jersey pride is real.”
The Rutgers-Eagleton Poll surveyed 1,006 New Jersey adults from June 25-29 with a margin of error of +/- 4.1%.
