Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Oakland leads 13 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Oakland
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $525k less ($358,400 vs $883,800)
79% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $459/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,849)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $34,450/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
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,450 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
79% lower
408.7 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$525k less
$358,400 vs $883,800
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$34,450
$94,389 vs $59,939/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Elizabeth is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oakland leads 13 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 10 and Oakland wins 13. 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $883,800 median home), income ($59,939 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Oakland, CA are about 2,547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.