Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Savannah leads 15 of 20 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665
Savannah
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $5,191 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Savannah
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Savannah, GA
Pros
95% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Homes cost $155k less ($203,300 vs $358,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $174/mo less ($1,216 vs $1,390)
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.9%)
Median income trails Elizabeth by $5,191/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Income
$5,191
$59,939 vs $54,748/yr
Elizabeth
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.2% unemployment
Savannah
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Savannah
Violent Crime
95% lower
20.3 vs 408.7 per 100k
Savannah
Median Home Value
$155k less
$203,300 vs $358,400
Savannah
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.3°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 95.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $203,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,216 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 92.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 147,583 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Savannah is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Savannah leads 15 of 20 categories. Elizabeth wins 5 and Savannah wins 15. 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 Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $203,300 median home), income ($59,939 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Savannah, GA are about 713 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.