Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Norman leads 19 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
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 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Norman
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($224,900 vs $358,400)
36% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Rent averages $386/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,390)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Income
$2,910
$62,849 vs $59,939/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
36% lower
260.2 vs 408.7 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$134k less
$224,900 vs $358,400
Norman
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $62,849 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 37.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 4.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 19 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 4 and Norman wins 19. 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $224,900 median home), income ($59,939 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Norman, OK are about 1,311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.