Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Arden-Arcade leads 15 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,076
Jersey City
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Rent averages $414/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,799)
8% less violent crime than Jersey City
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Homes cost $34k less ($466,300 vs $500,100)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $26,672/yr
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.8%)
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $26,672 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 37.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Arden-Arcade
Violent Crime
8% lower
518.1 vs 561.6 per 100k
Arden-Arcade
Median Home Value
$34k less
$466,300 vs $500,100
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 86.8°F
Jersey City
Median Income
$26,672
$91,151 vs $64,479/yr
Jersey City
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Jersey City, 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 ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Arden-Arcade is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arden-Arcade leads 15 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 15 and Jersey City wins 8. 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $500,100 median home), income ($64,479 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Jersey City, NJ are about 2,491 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.