The other thing NJ is known for is rediculous property taxes
It is partly due to the pseudo racial segregation along economic lines in conjunction with low rate of state income tax relative to state of similar population bases. Property taxes are left to pay for the bulk of school taxes.
You basically have two New Jersey's. One composed of a group of cities in close commuting distance to NYC and Philadelphia - the bread of the sandwich. The other makes the meat of the sandwich in between these two large areas of commuter suburbs.
Bottom line in the close commuting suburbs are characterized by high population densities, fairly average in income relative to rest of US, higher then national average percentage of non-white population, and have declining tax bases. As both manufacturing jobs moves out of state and white residents of higher incomes since the 60's has left these communities unable to pay for their repair and cost of their crumbling inner city school systems. Their property taxes are high because of the lack of ratable from manufacturing.
The other half of New Jersey, comprised of middle class white flight communities of long commuting distances from NYC and Phila. of Central New Jersey and the people of the North and West New Jersey, so called Skylands area, who have ample financial means to move to this more rural New Jersey because they just don't like to live in close proximity to each other or with people from a another racial or economic background; I base my views on the diversity index of this area of over 90%, meaning 90% chance your neighbor is your same racial background. There property taxes are high because they choose to have the best school systems money can afford.
In between these two large areas is a fairly small strip of affluent mixed communities like Montclair, Maplewood and Westfield where the real estate porridge is just about right for increasing price valuations preventing white flight, good schools and short commuting distance to NYC.
State government is in virtually gridlock from offsetting interests between the urban areas vs rural areas. Unless the state economic coffers are in good shape like late 90's, the state spending plans are always reigned in to only the basic services. Raising income taxes in NJ has always been the political 3rd rail for any governor who has raised them in the past.
I would have to believe the future of OH based upon NJ experiences and populaiton demographics is not that rosy.
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