Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 19 of 23 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
Scottsdale
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $293k less ($358,400 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $378/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $44,258/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 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $44,258 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$293k less
$358,400 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$44,258
$104,197 vs $59,939/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
63% lower
152.5 vs 408.7 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 19 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 4 and Scottsdale wins 19. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $651,800 median home), income ($59,939 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Scottsdale, AZ are about 2,112 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.