Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Jersey City leads 13 of 22 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
287,899
New York
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $232k less ($500,100 vs $732,100)
16% less violent crime than New York
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $14,544 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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)
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
New York, NY
Pros
Rent averages $85/mo less ($1,714 vs $1,799)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Jersey City by $14,544/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$14,544
$91,151 vs $76,607/yr
Jersey City
Violent Crime
16% lower
561.6 vs 671.0 per 100k
Jersey City
Median Home Value
$232k less
$500,100 vs $732,100
Jersey City
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,714⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $76,607 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 24.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Jersey City leads 13 of 22 categories. Jersey City wins 13 and New York 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 Jersey City to New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $732,100 median home), income ($91,151 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and New York, NY are about 7 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.