Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Jersey City leads 13 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
Jersey City
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,799)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $27,032/yr
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $27,032 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $82k less ($500,100 vs $582,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
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
Jersey City
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Jersey City
Median Income
$27,032
$91,151 vs $64,119/yr
Jersey City
Median Home Value
$82k less
$500,100 vs $582,400
Jersey City
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Jersey City
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $500,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Jersey City is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jersey City leads 13 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 10 and Jersey City wins 13. 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 East Los Angeles to Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $500,100 median home), income ($64,119 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Jersey City, NJ are about 2,439 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.