Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 18 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $370k less ($358,400 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $674/mo less ($1,390 vs $2,064)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $39,474/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 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,474 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$370k less
$358,400 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
San Marcos
Median Income
$39,474
$99,413 vs $59,939/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
46% lower
222.4 vs 408.7 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
San Marcos is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 18 of 22 categories. Elizabeth wins 4 and San Marcos wins 18. 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 Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $728,800 median home), income ($59,939 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and San Marcos, CA are about 2,406 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.