City Profile

Elizabeth, New Jersey

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Elizabeth, New Jersey, serves as one of the state's most historic and dynamic urban centers, originally founded in 1664 and named after the wife of Sir George Carteret. As the county seat of Union County, it combines a rich colonial heritage with a bustling modern identity driven by its strategic location near Newark Liberty International Airport and major marine terminals. People are drawn to Elizabeth for its exceptional proximity to New York City, robust transit connectivity, and vibrant multicultural community that welcomes newcomers from across the globe.

About New Jersey

New Jersey, known as the "Garden State," offers a diverse character ranging from dense urban areas to charming suburban towns and rural landscapes. Its robust economy, with a GDP of over $815 billion, is driven by major industries such as pharmaceuticals and life sciences, financial services, technology, advanced manufacturing, and transportation and logistics. Living in New Jersey is generally more expensive than the national average, with housing costs being a primary factor. The state experiences a humid subtropical climate across most of its area, characterized by warm, humid summers and moderately cold, occasionally snowy winters, with distinct seasonal changes. Residents enjoy a lifestyle that balances proximity to major metropolitan areas like New York City and Philadelphia with access to beaches, mountains, and various recreational opportunities.

141,675

Population

$65K

Avg Salary

105

Cost Index

54.5

Quality Score

How this 55/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 68 / 100	68.0	30%	20.4
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 105.0	37.5	25%	9.4
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $66,555 Income needed to live here: $55,000 Unemployment rate: 6.1%	50.0	20%	10.0
Growth	Population growth rate: 0.87% Job growth rate: 1.9%	52.4	15%	7.9
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 69 / 100	69.0	10%	6.9
Overall score				54.5

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (Tier 2 (reasoned), q=71), last refreshed 11 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

Featured Events

Happening in Elizabeth

Featured and sponsored events in Elizabeth.

All events

Hosting an event in Elizabeth? Featured events appear right here for everyone exploring Elizabeth. Post yours free, or get it featured.

Post an event Feature my event

Local Directory

Businesses in Elizabeth

Featured local businesses in Elizabeth.

All 1 in the directory List your business

Put your business in front of people moving to Elizabeth Featured businesses appear here for everyone researching Elizabeth. Add a featured spot to your banner package, or start with a free listing.

Feature my business List free

Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Elizabeth sits slightly above the national average, heavily influenced by its position within the high-cost New York metropolitan area. While everyday goods and services remain relatively aligned with regional standards, housing costs and local taxes represent the largest share of household expenditures. Proximity to major economic hubs and transit corridors helps offset some of these expenses by providing abundant employment opportunities within a short commute.

Average Rent

$1,916/mo

Groceries

$400/mo

Transport

$90/mo

Utilities

$180/mo

Healthcare

$230/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$50.00

Cinema ticket

$15.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$25.00

Monthly groceries

$400.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$150.00

Income

Salary Insights

Elizabeth boasts a dynamic economy anchored by transportation, logistics, wholesale trade, and healthcare, capitalizing on its proximity to major ports and international shipping lanes. Major employers span warehousing operations, aviation support services tied to Newark Liberty, and local healthcare networks that offer steady employment opportunities. The city's entrepreneurial landscape is expanding, supported by commercial corridors and revitalization initiatives that encourage small business growth and retail development.

The average salary in Elizabeth is $65,000 per year. You would need approximately $55,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade +1.50% Accommodation and Food Services +1.80% Healthcare and Social Assistance +2.10% Professional and Business Services +2.00% Transportation and Warehousing +2.40%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

55°F

Avg Temp

☀️

84°F

Summer High

❄️

25°F

Winter Low

🌧️

43.10"

Annual Rain

💧

65.00%

Humidity

🌤️

249

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Elizabeth is a premier transit hub featuring extensive rail service via NJ Transit, multiple bus lines, and immediate access to major highways like the New Jersey Turnpike and Routes 1 and 9. The city's walkable downtown districts and dense transit infrastructure make it convenient for residents to navigate without an automobile, though car ownership remains common for regional travel. Average commute times align closely with regional averages, typically running around 27 minutes.

27 min

Avg Commute

75.00/10

Transit Score

70.00/10

Walkability

Medium

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Median household income grew by 4.2% to $66,555 per the U.S. Census Bureau.

Exceptional public transit connectivity via NJ Transit rail and bus networks linking directly to New York City.

Strategic economic location adjacent to Newark Liberty International Airport and major port logistics hubs.

Vibrant multicultural community featuring diverse global dining, local markets, and cultural festivals.

Proximity to major higher education institutions, including Kean University located nearby in Union County.

Drawbacks

Poverty rate stands at approximately 15.7%, presenting ongoing socioeconomic challenges for a portion of residents.

High regional property taxes and housing costs typical of the New York metropolitan commuter zone.

Persistent urban traffic congestion along major freight corridors and highway intersections like Routes 1 and 9.

Limited single-family home inventory, leading to a highly competitive housing and rental market.

Industrial density in certain sectors contributes to localized environmental and air quality concerns.

Head to Head

Compare Elizabeth

Elizabeth VS Hamilton Township Elizabeth VS Binghamton Elizabeth VS Cincinnati Elizabeth VS Tigard

Explore

Nearby Cities

Passaic

Union City

Edison

Paterson

Community Q&A

Questions about Elizabeth

What people ask about living in and moving to Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Ask a question

Gathering the most common questions about Elizabeth…

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.

BizStateFiling.com Starting a business in Elizabeth? Form your LLC or corporation in New Jersey online — BizStateFiling handles the state paperwork for you. New Jersey state filing fee: $125. Start my New Jersey business

FindCarez.com Live Listings