Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tampa, FL
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Tampa leads 16 of 23 categories
Tampa
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tampa, FL
Pros
57% less violent crime than Trenton
Households earn $22,358 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $222k less ($111,200 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $245/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,422)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tampa by $22,358/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Tampa
Median Income
$22,358
$66,802 vs $44,444/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
57% lower
444.6 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Tampa
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 10.2% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$222k less
$111,200 vs $333,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tampa, FL | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $333,200⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,422⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,802 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.3% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 388,768 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tampa's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 16 of 23 categories. Tampa wins 16 and Trenton wins 7. 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 Tampa to Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($333,200 vs $111,200 median home), income ($66,802 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tampa, FL and Trenton, NJ are about 954 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.