Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Inglewood, CA
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Jersey City leads 14 of 23 categories
Inglewood
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
106,806
Jersey City
New Jersey
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Inglewood, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $133/mo less ($1,666 vs $1,799)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $689,700
Median income trails Jersey City by $23,588/yr
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($500,100 vs $689,700)
Households earn $23,588 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Inglewood
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.8%)
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 37.0 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Jersey City
Median Income
$23,588
$91,151 vs $67,563/yr
Jersey City
Violent Crime
17% lower
561.6 vs 674.6 per 100k
Jersey City
Median Home Value
$190k less
$500,100 vs $689,700
Jersey City
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Jersey City
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Inglewood, CA | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $689,700⚠ High | $500,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,666⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,563 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.8% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.6% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inglewood Unified | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,806 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.5% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Inglewood's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Jersey City is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jersey City leads 14 of 23 categories. Inglewood wins 9 and Jersey City 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 Inglewood to Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($689,700 vs $500,100 median home), income ($67,563 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Inglewood, CA and Jersey City, NJ are about 2,450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.