Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano 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
Plano
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $309/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,699)
Homes cost $54k less ($358,400 vs $412,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $45,740/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
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $45,740 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$54k less
$358,400 vs $412,500
Plano
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$45,740
$105,679 vs $59,939/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
63% lower
151.6 vs 408.7 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 19 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 4 and Plano 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $412,500 median home), income ($59,939 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Plano, TX are about 1,348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.