That's not North Jersey, Monmouth County is Central Jersey. The farther South you go in Jersey, the cost of living lessens, unless you're in one of the rich towns like Rumson or Manalapan or Deal.
I don't know how much you know of Jersey, but the closer to NY you get the more costly it is and the people are different. It's more laid back in Central and South Jersey; if you have kid's, the school systems are good.
The housing costs in Jersey are, to me a little high overall, higher than most states, even after the slump. The prices for some small houses still amazes me, but the farther you get from the city, the less you pay. Of course this affects rent to some extent, so you won't be paying NYC prices.
If you're working there, you're lucky, because most traffic is heading North for the commute and it's a nightmare. It's not crowded in Central Jersey and Monmouth County has a lot open space, as well as plenty of places to do business and shop, etc. Monmouth county has a lot of horse farms, (if you're into that) the Freehold Raceway and Monmouth Park Racetrack.
I used to live in Northern Jersey and I'm glad I left. There's a lot less congestion and some crime. Too bad I have to commute North for work, though.
Good luck; if you can help it, try to get a place North of where you're working so your commute is headed South.
Edit: As for Cowboy attire, there are plenty of Cowboy fans in Jersey. Some Giant fans or Philly fans, which there are a lot of in Central and Southern Jersey, might talk some crap, but overall it's only talk. You'll see plenty of Cowboy stickers on cars.
