Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara leads 14 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $1082k less ($358,400 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1451/mo less ($1,390 vs $2,841)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $105,413/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%)
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $105,413 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$1082k less
$358,400 vs $1,440,200
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 80.8°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Santa Clara
Median Income
$105,413
$165,352 vs $59,939/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
55% lower
182.0 vs 408.7 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 41.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Elizabeth is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 14 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 9 and Santa Clara wins 14. 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($59,939 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Santa Clara, CA are about 2,543 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.