Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 13 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Fullerton
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $433k less ($358,400 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $599/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,989)
10% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $39,340/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
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,340 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
10% lower
408.7 vs 455.3 per 100k
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$433k less
$358,400 vs $791,000
Elizabeth
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Fullerton
Median Income
$39,340
$99,279 vs $59,939/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Elizabeth is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 13 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 10 and Fullerton 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 Elizabeth to Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $791,000 median home), income ($59,939 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Fullerton, CA are about 2,424 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.