Elizabeth, NJ Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Elizabeth, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Elizabeth →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Roughly 135,665 people call Elizabeth, New Jersey home. Household income runs $59,939 at the median, below what we see across the broader set of cities (-17%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating to Elizabeth. The median home value sits at $358,400 (roughly in line with the multi-city median at +10%), while renters pay a median of $1,390 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
Home values running about 6.0× median income put Elizabeth on the stretched end of the affordability spectrum among cities we cover. Home values near Elizabeth rose 5.47% in the past year, a pace most would call steady rather than hot. Elizabeth carries a Relatively High hazard rating from FEMA — elevated risk that's typically reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,390/mo in Elizabeth would take 27.8% of your income.
$108/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($358,400) would take 38.3% of your income toward principal & interest.
$515/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Elizabeth
Median home value is $358,400 and median gross rent is $1,390/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Union rose 5.47% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,205/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Elizabeth's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Elizabeth reported a violent crime rate of 344.9 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Elizabeth
Planning a move to Elizabeth? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Elizabeth, NJ?
- Elizabeth's key cost-of-living figures: $358,400 median home value, $1,390 median monthly rent, and $59,939 median household income, per the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Elizabeth?
- Elizabeth's median rent of $1,390/month works out to roughly $55,600 in annual income needed, if you're budgeting the standard 30% of gross pay toward rent. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Elizabeth.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Elizabeth?
- Elizabeth's median rent of $1,390/month translates to about $55,600 a year needed to rent comfortably, versus roughly $82,000 a year for principal and interest on the $358,400 median home (20% down, 30-year fixed, today's rates). How long you'll stay is usually the deciding factor.
- Is Elizabeth safe?
- Per FBI Crime Data Explorer figures, Elizabeth's violent crime rate was 344.9 per 100,000 residents in 2025.
See the full salary breakdown for Elizabeth →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Elizabeth's.