NJ is super crappy along the turnpike in the Newark/Elizabeth/Jersey City area, especially where the oil refineries are. unfortunately, that's the only part of the state that 99% of out-of-towners ever see, given that their only time spent in the state is driving down the I95 corridor or in a cab going from Newark airport to NYC.
outside of that area, and Camden/Trenton/Atlantic City, most of the state is pretty nice. it varies widely from urban areas like Hoboken/Jersey City to farm country in central/southern Jersey.