Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Elizabeth leads 15 of 22 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Newark
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (5.9%)
30% less violent crime than Newark
Households earn $13,479 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $46k less ($312,300 vs $358,400)
Rent averages $117/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,390)
Cons
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Elizabeth by $13,479/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Income
$13,479
$59,939 vs $46,460/yr
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
30% lower
408.7 vs 581.2 per 100k
Elizabeth
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 10.7% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Newark
Median Home Value
$46k less
$312,300 vs $358,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Newark, 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 | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 17.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 77.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 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 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elizabeth leads 15 of 22 categories. Elizabeth wins 15 and Newark wins 7. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $312,300 median home), income ($59,939 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Newark, NJ are about 4 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.