Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 17 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
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
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
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
Median income trails Pearland by $19,972/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Pearland, TX
Pros
83% less violent crime than Jersey City
Homes cost $189k less ($311,100 vs $500,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $19,972 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 39°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$19,972
$111,123 vs $91,151/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
83% lower
95.9 vs 561.6 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$189k less
$311,100 vs $500,100
Pearland
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,622⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 33.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 17 of 23 categories. Jersey City wins 6 and Pearland wins 17. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $311,100 median home), income ($91,151 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Pearland, TX are about 1,421 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.