Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 16 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665
Sunnyvale
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $1322k less ($358,400 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1600/mo less ($1,390 vs $2,990)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $114,567/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 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $114,567 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
40% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$1322k less
$358,400 vs $1,680,700
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 76.9°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$114,567
$174,506 vs $59,939/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
40% lower
244.5 vs 408.7 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Sunnyvale, 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 | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Elizabeth is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 16 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 7 and Sunnyvale wins 16. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($59,939 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Sunnyvale, CA are about 2,546 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.