Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Arden-Arcade leads 16 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,479 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Elizabeth
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
Households earn $4,540 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Cons
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.9%)
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
21% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Homes cost $108k less ($358,400 vs $466,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Arden-Arcade by $4,540/yr
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Arden-Arcade
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Arden-Arcade
Median Income
$4,540
$64,479 vs $59,939/yr
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 86.9°F
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
21% lower
408.7 vs 518.1 per 100k
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$108k less
$358,400 vs $466,300
Elizabeth
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,390⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 135,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Arden-Arcade is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arden-Arcade leads 16 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 16 and Elizabeth wins 7. 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 Arden-Arcade to Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $358,400 median home), income ($64,479 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Elizabeth, NJ are about 2,485 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.