Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Chula Vista leads 15 of 23 categories
Chula Vista
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,045 more per year on average
8% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.8% vs 5.9%)
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($358,400 vs $647,100)
Rent averages $645/mo less ($1,390 vs $2,035)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.9%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chula Vista by $42,045/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
Chula Vista
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Chula Vista
Median Income
$42,045
$101,984 vs $59,939/yr
Chula Vista
Violent Crime
8% lower
375.8 vs 408.7 per 100k
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$289k less
$358,400 vs $647,100
Elizabeth
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.8% unemployment
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 74.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, 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 | $647,100⚠ High | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 135,665 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Chula Vista is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chula Vista leads 15 of 23 categories. Chula Vista 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 Chula Vista to Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $358,400 median home), income ($101,984 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and Elizabeth, NJ are about 2,413 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.