Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 13 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
San Francisco
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $990k less ($358,400 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $926/mo less ($1,390 vs $2,316)
31% less violent crime than San Francisco
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $76,750/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
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $76,750 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 87°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
31% lower
408.7 vs 596.5 per 100k
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$990k less
$358,400 vs $1,348,700
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
25.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$76,750
$136,689 vs $59,939/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Elizabeth is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 13 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 10 and San Francisco wins 13. 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 Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($59,939 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and San Francisco, CA are about 2,589 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.