Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 11 of 20 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Jersey City
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Homes cost $83k less ($417,600 vs $500,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 39°F
Rent averages $172/mo less ($1,627 vs $1,799)
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $15,775/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $15,775 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Lauderdale
Median Home Value
$83k less
$417,600 vs $500,100
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 86.8°F
Jersey City
Median Income
$15,775
$91,151 vs $75,376/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Lauderdale is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 11 of 20 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 11 and Jersey City wins 9. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $500,100 median home), income ($75,376 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Jersey City, NJ are about 1,065 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.