Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Anaheim leads 12 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Elizabeth
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,599 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 40°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $355k less ($358,400 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $568/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,958)
31% less violent crime than Anaheim
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Cons
Median income trails Anaheim by $28,599/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$28,599
$88,538 vs $59,939/yr
Anaheim
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Elizabeth
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
31% lower
408.7 vs 596.2 per 100k
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$355k less
$358,400 vs $713,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 135,665 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Elizabeth is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Anaheim leads 12 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 12 and Elizabeth wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anaheim to Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $358,400 median home), income ($88,538 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Elizabeth, NJ are about 2,416 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.