Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Chandler leads 19 of 23 categories
Chandler
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
Elizabeth
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Households earn $39,435 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 40°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $285/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,675)
Homes cost $66k less ($358,400 vs $423,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chandler by $39,435/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
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Chandler
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Chandler
Median Income
$39,435
$99,374 vs $59,939/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
67% lower
133.4 vs 408.7 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
19.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 86.9°F
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$66k less
$358,400 vs $423,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ 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 | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 ✓ Larger | 135,665 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Chandler is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chandler leads 19 of 23 categories. Chandler wins 19 and Elizabeth wins 4. 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 Chandler to Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $358,400 median home), income ($99,374 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Elizabeth, NJ are about 2,123 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.