Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Fort Lauderdale, FL
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 15 of 20 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $237/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,627)
Homes cost $59k less ($358,400 vs $417,600)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $15,437/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
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $15,437 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 40°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$59k less
$358,400 vs $417,600
Fort Lauderdale
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$15,437
$75,376 vs $59,939/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $417,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,627⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $75,376 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 63.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 182,673 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 19.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Fort Lauderdale's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Lauderdale is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 15 of 20 categories. Elizabeth wins 5 and Fort Lauderdale wins 15. 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 Elizabeth to Fort Lauderdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $417,600 median home), income ($59,939 vs $75,376), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Fort Lauderdale, FL are about 1,060 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.