Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Palm Coast leads 14 of 20 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
Palm Coast
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $231/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,621)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Median income trails Palm Coast by $8,885/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
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($283,300 vs $358,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $8,885 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Income
$8,885
$68,824 vs $59,939/yr
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$75k less
$283,300 vs $358,400
Palm Coast
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $283,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,621⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $68,824 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 26.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 14 of 20 categories. Elizabeth wins 6 and Palm Coast wins 14. 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 Palm Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $283,300 median home), income ($59,939 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Palm Coast, FL are about 865 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.