Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Elizabeth
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Jersey City
New Jersey
11
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($358,400 vs $500,100)
27% less violent crime than Jersey City
Rent averages $409/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $31,212/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
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $31,212 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
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)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
27% lower
408.7 vs 561.6 per 100k
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$142k less
$358,400 vs $500,100
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Jersey City
Median Income
$31,212
$91,151 vs $59,939/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 29.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Elizabeth wins 11 and Jersey City wins 11. 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $500,100 median home), income ($59,939 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Jersey City, NJ are about 7 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.