Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 12 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($500,100 vs $617,300)
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $363/mo less ($1,799 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tracy by $20,566/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Tracy
Tracy, CA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Jersey City
Households earn $20,566 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Home Value
$117k less
$500,100 vs $617,300
Tracy
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$20,566
$111,717 vs $91,151/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
46% lower
301.4 vs 561.6 per 100k
Tracy
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tracy leads 12 of 23 categories. Jersey City wins 11 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $617,300 median home), income ($91,151 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Tracy, CA are about 2,514 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.