Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Carlsbad leads 15 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Elizabeth
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $74,200 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $712k less ($358,400 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1087/mo less ($1,390 vs $2,477)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $74,200/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
Carlsbad
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Carlsbad
Median Income
$74,200
$134,139 vs $59,939/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
51% lower
199.1 vs 408.7 per 100k
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$712k less
$358,400 vs $1,070,500
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 135,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Carlsbad is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 15 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 15 and Elizabeth 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 Carlsbad to Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $358,400 median home), income ($134,139 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Elizabeth, NJ are about 2,412 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.