Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 17 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665
Richmond
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Richmond
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Richmond, VA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Homes cost $50k less ($308,300 vs $358,400)
Rent averages $163/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,390)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
18% lower
336.9 vs 408.7 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$50k less
$308,300 vs $358,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 8.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 43.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 17 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 6 and Richmond wins 17. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $308,300 median home), income ($59,939 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Richmond, VA are about 279 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.