Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
287,899
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
30% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $19,059 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($340,200 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $477/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 39°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Jersey City by $19,059/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$19,059
$91,151 vs $72,092/yr
Jersey City
Violent Crime
30% lower
561.6 vs 799.6 per 100k
Phoenix
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$160k less
$340,200 vs $500,100
Phoenix
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories. Jersey City wins 10 and Phoenix 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $340,200 median home), income ($91,151 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Phoenix, AZ are about 2,134 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.