Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 17 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $30,509/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Midland
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $30,509 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Homes cost $78k less ($280,700 vs $358,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.2%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$30,509
$90,448 vs $59,939/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
11% lower
364.9 vs 408.7 per 100k
Midland
Median Home Value
$78k less
$280,700 vs $358,400
Midland
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 5.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 84.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 17 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 6 and Midland wins 17. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $280,700 median home), income ($59,939 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Midland, TX are about 1,656 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.