Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Stockton leads 14 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Stockton
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
64% less violent crime than Stockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Homes cost $24k less ($358,400 vs $382,000)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Stockton by $11,673/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
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Stockton
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $11,673 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 18.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Cons
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.9%)
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
64% lower
408.7 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$24k less
$358,400 vs $382,000
Elizabeth
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Stockton
Median Income
$11,673
$71,612 vs $59,939/yr
Stockton
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $382,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 5.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 18.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Stockton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stockton leads 14 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 9 and Stockton 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $382,000 median home), income ($59,939 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Stockton, CA are about 2,495 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.