Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 17 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Tampa
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
8% less violent crime than Tampa
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Tampa by $6,863/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.2%)
Tampa, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 40°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $6,863 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Homes cost $25k less ($333,200 vs $358,400)
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
8% lower
408.7 vs 444.6 per 100k
Tampa
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Median Income
$6,863
$66,802 vs $59,939/yr
Tampa
Median Home Value
$25k less
$333,200 vs $358,400
Tampa
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 17 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 6 and Tampa wins 17. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $333,200 median home), income ($59,939 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Tampa, FL are about 996 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.