Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Elizabeth, NJ

    Is Elizabeth a good place to live?

    Watch Elizabeth

    Elizabeth ranks #34 of 42 New Jersey cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (37/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.2% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $393,500
    +9.8% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,463
    per month
    Household income
    $63,874
    median
    Unemployment
    6.9%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Elizabeth

    The median home value in Elizabeth is $393,500 and median rent is $1,463 a month, against a median household income of $63,874. Homes cost about 6.2× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Elizabeth crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across New Jersey the 2025 rate was 199 violent and 1,268 property crimes per 100,000 people — #39 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Elizabeth, NJ

    Elizabeth has about 135,887 residents, 6.9% unemployment and 10% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Elizabeth with

    Elizabeth vs NewarkElizabeth vs Jersey CityElizabeth vs PatersonElizabeth vs Toms RiverElizabeth vs TrentonElizabeth vs CliftonElizabeth vs CamdenElizabeth vs Bayonne

    More: Where to move in New Jersey · Best counties in New Jersey

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report