Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 17 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $339/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $28,527/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Cost of living runs 13% higher than San Tan Valley
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $28,527 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Homes cost $54k less ($304,000 vs $358,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 40°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$28,527
$88,466 vs $59,939/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
42% lower
235.7 vs 408.7 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$54k less
$304,000 vs $358,400
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 17 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 6 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $304,000 median home), income ($59,939 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 2,111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.