Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Elizabeth
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $26,617 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
12% less violent crime than Austin
Homes cost $103k less ($358,400 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $159/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,549)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $26,617/yr
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Austin
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
Austin
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$26,617
$86,556 vs $59,939/yr
Austin
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 86.9°F
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
12% lower
408.7 vs 466.9 per 100k
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$103k less
$358,400 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ 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 | 123⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 135,665 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Austin is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin wins 14 and Elizabeth wins 9. 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 Austin to Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $358,400 median home), income ($86,556 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Elizabeth, NJ are about 1,500 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.