Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 16 of 22 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
37% less violent crime than Redding
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Redding by $7,384/yr
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Redding
Redding, CA
Pros
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,384 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Rent averages $112/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,390)
Cons
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
37% lower
408.7 vs 647.8 per 100k
Redding
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Redding
Median Income
$7,384
$67,323 vs $59,939/yr
Redding
Median Home Value
$15k less
$343,000 vs $358,400
Redding
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $67,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 26.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Redding is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Redding leads 16 of 22 categories. Elizabeth wins 6 and Redding wins 16. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $343,000 median home), income ($59,939 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Redding, CA are about 2,494 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.