Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 San Bernardino leads 12 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
San Bernardino
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
54% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°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
Cost of living runs 5% higher than San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 40°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
54% lower
408.7 vs 897.1 per 100k
Elizabeth
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Median Income
$1,384
$61,323 vs $59,939/yr
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$11k less
$347,100 vs $358,400
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $61,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 5.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Bernardino leads 12 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 11 and San Bernardino wins 12. 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $347,100 median home), income ($59,939 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and San Bernardino, CA are about 2,384 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.