Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 West Jordan leads 14 of 22 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
West Jordan
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
116,383
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $54k less ($358,400 vs $412,100)
Rent averages $99/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,489)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Jordan by $39,063/yr
Cost of living runs 14% higher than West Jordan
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Households earn $39,063 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.2%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,100
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$54k less
$358,400 vs $412,100
West Jordan
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
West Jordan
Median Income
$39,063
$99,002 vs $59,939/yr
West Jordan
Violent Crime
28% lower
294.2 vs 408.7 per 100k
West Jordan
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
West Jordan
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 98.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $412,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 116,383 |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
West Jordan is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Jordan leads 14 of 22 categories. Elizabeth wins 8 and West Jordan 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 West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $412,100 median home), income ($59,939 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and West Jordan, UT are about 1,967 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.