Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Palm Coast leads 12 of 20 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $22,327 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
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
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 unemployment (5.8% vs 4.1%)
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($283,300 vs $500,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 39°F
Rent averages $178/mo less ($1,621 vs $1,799)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $22,327/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$22,327
$91,151 vs $68,824/yr
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$217k less
$283,300 vs $500,100
Palm Coast
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $283,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,621⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $68,824 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 13.1% |
| 🔒 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 | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 12 of 20 categories. Jersey City wins 8 and Palm Coast wins 12. 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 Palm Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $283,300 median home), income ($91,151 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Palm Coast, FL are about 871 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.