Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Edinburg leads 13 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Jersey City
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $341k less ($159,600 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $879/mo less ($920 vs $1,799)
52% less violent crime than Jersey City
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $37,012/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.8%)
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $37,012 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Edinburg
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
52% lower
269.6 vs 561.6 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$341k less
$159,600 vs $500,100
Edinburg
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 86.8°F
Jersey City
Median Income
$37,012
$91,151 vs $54,139/yr
Jersey City
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 13 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 13 and Jersey City wins 10. 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 Edinburg to Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $500,100 median home), income ($54,139 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Jersey City, NJ are about 1,698 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.