Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Elizabeth leads 12 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $419k less ($358,400 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $587/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,977)
6% less violent crime than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $20,332/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
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,332 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 26.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
6% lower
408.7 vs 436.2 per 100k
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$419k less
$358,400 vs $777,100
Elizabeth
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$20,332
$80,271 vs $59,939/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Elizabeth is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elizabeth leads 12 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 12 and Westminster wins 11. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $777,100 median home), income ($59,939 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Westminster, CA are about 2,431 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.