Elizabeth, New Jersey
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Elizabeth.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Elizabeth?
Elizabeth, NJ has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 119 (above the U.S. housing-cost baseline; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $393,500 and median rent about $1,463, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $63,874. Typical commute is 32 minutes; summer highs average 84°F. Violent-offense rates run about 719.2 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 119U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $393,500U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,463U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $63,874U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.9%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 32 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 719.2per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 84°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Elizabeth compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 140,413City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $63,874Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year19% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 119ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year19% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $393,500City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year30% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,463City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year9% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.9%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 32 min28% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 7260% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 719.2annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)23% above U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 3027.5annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)Near U.S. avg (3087.9)U.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 84°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals3.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 28°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 46.6 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals41% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 242As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10% below U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Elizabeth grew 12.1% from 125,257 in 2010 to 140,413 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Elizabeth expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Elizabeth's housing cost index is 119 versus 100 nationally — above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($393,500 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,463 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 119 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $393,500 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,463 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Elizabeth?
Typical ownership costs center near $393,500, while median gross rent is about $1,463 a month. Against a median household income of $63,874, rent alone is roughly 27% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $393,500
- Median rent $1,463/month
- Median household income $63,874
What is the job market like in Elizabeth?
County unemployment recently ran 4.9% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Elizabeth is about $63,874 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.9% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $63,874
How long is the typical commute in Elizabeth?
Average one-way commute time is about 32 minutes, with Walk Score near 72/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 32 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 72/100
Is Elizabeth safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 719.2 per 100k and property about 3027.5 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 719.2 per 100k
- Property 3027.5 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Elizabeth?
Normals show summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 28°F, about 46.6 inches of rain, and roughly 242 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 84°F
- Winter low 28°F
- 46.6 in rain · 242 sunny days
Elizabeth (pop. 140,413) sits in New Jersey. Median household income is roughly $63,874, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 119 — above the national housing-cost baseline (100 ≈ U.S. average). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $393,500 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Elizabeth is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Elizabeth with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Dense suburbs, port logistics, and quick Manhattan access define many towns. The normals show about 46.6 inches of rain and 242 sunny days across a typical year. Plan on roughly 32 minutes each way for a typical commute; Walk Score is about 72. Unemployment recently ran near 4.9%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. Violent-offense rates near 719.2 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Elizabeth city, 1600000US3421000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Union County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014734 NEWARK INTL AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10