Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 13 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,151
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $93k less ($500,100 vs $593,100)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
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
Norwalk, CA
Pros
33% less violent crime than Jersey City
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Jersey City
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 Home Value
$93k less
$500,100 vs $593,100
Norwalk
Violent Crime
33% lower
374.4 vs 561.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 29.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Jersey City is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 13 of 23 categories. Jersey City wins 10 and Norwalk wins 13. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $593,100 median home), income ($91,151 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Norwalk, CA are about 2,438 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.