Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Elizabeth leads 15 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Kent
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $120k less ($358,400 vs $478,400)
17% less violent crime than Kent
Rent averages $352/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $27,027/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
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $27,027 more per year on average
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
17% lower
408.7 vs 489.7 per 100k
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$120k less
$358,400 vs $478,400
Elizabeth
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.6% unemployment
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$27,027
$86,966 vs $59,939/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 135,169 |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Elizabeth is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elizabeth leads 15 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 15 and Kent wins 8. 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $478,400 median home), income ($59,939 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Kent, WA are about 2,391 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.