Elizabeth grades D overall, 435th among New Jersey's 466 graded towns, mostly because of safety. Its crime rate is higher than 87% of U.S. towns, with 485 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. In its favor, it is more walkable than 98% of U.S. towns. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 96% of U.S. towns, with 10 places on the National Register. Only 30 of New Jersey’s 530 towns score lower on health. Its National Register listings include Boxwood Hall and Belcher-Ogden House. Only 46 of New Jersey’s 530 towns score lower on incomes.

StrongestA⁺Walkability A⁺HistoryWeakestDCost of living DSafety CSchools CHealth

What makes Elizabeth stand out

Where Elizabeth beats most towns.

Boxwood Hall

HistoryA⁺

Settled in 1665

A history going back 361 years.

WalkabilityA⁺

More walkable than 98% of U.S. towns

16.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transit

EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.

Natural hazardsB⁺

Low risk of storm and flood damage

FEMA National Risk Index.

Boxwood Hall · National Register of Historic Places

Elizabeth’s story

361 years in pictures

Boxwood Hall is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1665, comes before those of 97% of the New Jersey towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 2,977 in 1810, 137,298 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 1758 and 5 maps from 1947 on.

10 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1665Elizabeth is settled

Explore the history →

How Elizabeth grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Jersey), ordered by how far Elizabeth is from typical.

How grading works

Its grades run from A+ for walkability (better than 98% of comparable towns) to D for cost of living (better than 12%), so the D overall blends very different results.

WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.7 of 20; 20.6% of households have no carA⁺Open →Cost of livingDOpen →SafetyDOpen →SchoolsCOpen →HealthLess healthy than 74% of U.S. towns; Trinitas Regional Medical Center 0 miles awayCOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 28% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB⁺Open →Jobs & income$67K median household income; 47,343 jobs based hereC⁺Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors3 miles of trails; 2% conserved landB⁻Open →History33 notable people born hereA⁺Open →Civic life2.6 library visits per resident; 1.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market29 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.8; 15% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Madison Square Garden and 547 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Elizabeth. Close and well known come first.

All 632 attractions →

Big draw12 mi Stadium & arenaMadison Square Garden

Big draw14 mi GardenCentral Park40.0M visitors a year

Big draw12 mi Stadium & arenaMetLife Stadium

Big draw13 mi TheatreStudio 54

Big draw10 mi MuseumNational September 11 Memorial & Museum

Big draw14 mi MuseumMetropolitan Museum of Art2.0M visitors a year

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Madison Square Garden: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Central Park: Ed Yourdon from New York City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · MetLife Stadium: babyknight, CC BY 2.0 · Studio 54: Americasroof (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · National September 11 Memorial & Museum: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0 · Metropolitan Museum of Art: Hugo Schneider, CC BY-SA 2.0

Getting set up

Moving to Elizabeth: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Elizabeth, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerPSE&G25.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterNj American Water - LibertyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet5 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpBy addressDay by addressTown site

SchoolsElizabeth City School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn New Jersey you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereUnion County ClerkUnion County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2017

ZIP codes07202, 07208, 07206, 0720107202 32% · 07208 24% · 07206 23% · 07201 21%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Elizabeth.

Elizabeth trades workers with Newark and other neighbors, but it reports more crime than Newark and its other graded neighbors and has a long record of flood insurance claims.

SafetyD

Elizabeth’s grade for safety is a D

Each of the 5 graded towns on its borders reports less crime per resident, from Newark (C−) to Roselle Park (A−). Reported crimes fell from 4,729 to 3,884 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

Elizabeth’s property crime rate is 24.1 per 1,000 residents, where New Jersey’s towns sit at 7.4 and U.S. towns at 9.9. The violent crime rate in Elizabeth is 3.4 per 1,000 residents. Elizabeth reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 87% report less.

13%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade

	Elizabeth	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	24.1 per 1,000 residents	7.4	9.9
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	3.4 per 1,000 residents	0.7	1.6

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Elizabeth3.4

New Jersey2

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Elizabeth24.1

New Jersey12.7

U.S.15.5

13th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

5th

percentile among NJ towns

485

violent crimes reported in 2025

3,399

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageElizabeth’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type3.4 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighborsBehind its 6 graded neighbors Questions“Is Elizabeth, NJ safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

SchoolsC

Public schools in Elizabeth fall behind 74% of New Jersey districts

Its public schools are run by the Elizabeth Public Schools. Three of its 42 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

26%of NJ districts it outscoresCSchool Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
William F. Halloran School No.22Largest public middle schoolGrades 2–8	Grades 2–8	1,140	A⁻
John E. Dwyer Technology AcademyLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,348	D
Elizabeth High School - Frank J Cicarell AcademyTop results in townGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,268	A⁻

Full pageElizabeth’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsElizabeth Public Schools Vs. the neighborsAhead of 4 of its 7 graded neighbors Every school42 schools · Toussaint L'Ouverture-Marquis de Lafayette School No. 6 Questions“Are Elizabeth’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within NJ on state tests and graduation

HealthC

A larger share of adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance in Elizabeth than in most of New Jersey or the rest of the country

28% of adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance in Elizabeth, above both the New Jersey town median (8.4%) and the median of U.S. towns (8.1%). 73% of adults had a checkup this year in Elizabeth. Elizabeth beats the New Jersey average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 22.

26%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade

	Elizabeth	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Food insecurity (CDC PLACES)	32%	11%	14%
No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES)	28%	8.4%	8.1%
Get no exercise (CDC PLACES)	35%	22%	25%
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)	27%	15%	19%

32 measures vs. New Jersey

2 better8 too close to call22 worse

What stands out	Elizabeth	NJ
Fewer adults who have had cancer	4.4%	7.5%
Fewer adults with arthritis	17.7%	22.2%
More uninsured adults	28.1%	11.3%

Trinitas Regional Medical Center

In Elizabeth · emergency room

None

primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

6th

percentile among NJ towns

Full pageElizabeth’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore adults who get no exercise Hospitals & doctors nearbyTrinitas Regional Medical Center How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than NJ on 2 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B⁺

Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Elizabeth

228 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 20 properties have flooded more than once.

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 72% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 228 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Elizabeth.

28risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingEarthquakesHeat waves

228

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageElizabeth’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims228 paid flood claims · Since 1978 Past disasters9 federal disasters · Paid out in Elizabeth Get ready3.4 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

Elizabeth has four seasons and pleasant summers

Elizabeth has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 26° and about 32 inches of snow falls in a winter.

32″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter28–43°

Spring43–61°

Summer66–84°

Fall49–66°

Nov 10

typical first frost

Apr 2

typical last frost

+2.2°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageElizabeth’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 86°, January lows 26°Rain & snow32″ of snow a winter · 47 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+2.2° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C⁺

Elizabeth stands out in New Jersey and nationally: a larger share of its working residents work locally

Elizabeth has about as many jobs (47,343) as working residents, but only 9,171 people both live and work here.

19% of Elizabeth working residents work locally. The top destinations are Newark (10%), New York (8%) and Edison Township (4%). 16% of Elizabeth residents live below the poverty line.

19%work in town

	Elizabeth	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	16%	6%	9.6%
Work from home	6.3%	17%	11%
Working residents who work in town	19%	6.3%	8%
Median household income	$67,000	$113,000	$80,000

Where working residents work

In Elizabeth19%

Newark10%

New York8%

Edison Township4%

Linden3%

8 mi

median commute distance

47,343

jobs based in Elizabeth

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

A+

Walkability grade: more walkable than 98% of U.S. towns

Full pageElizabeth’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here47,343 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work19% work in Elizabeth Commute times27 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 8 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

OutdoorsB⁻

2.2% of Elizabeth is conserved land

3.1 miles of trail in 19 parks and preserves. Elizabeth’s trail density is 0.2 miles per square mile. The biggest park or preserve is Mattano Park, at 41 acres.

#321for trails in NJ

	Elizabeth	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Conserved land	2.2%	11%	4.3%
Miles of trail per square mile	0.2 miles per square mile	0.7	0.4

2.2%

conserved · 192 of 8,680 acres

3.1 mi

of trails · 0.2 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Mattano Park	0.7 mi	41
2. Kellogg Park	0.6 mi	11
3. Carteret Park	0.6 mi	9

Full pageElizabeth’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map3.1 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk0.7 miles of trail · Mattano Park Conserved land2.2% conserved · 192 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Elizabeth?”

HousingCost of living grade D

Elizabeth’s typical home value is about $552K

The typical Elizabeth home is worth about $552,000, up 2.9% in a year, close to the New Jersey typical home. Only 7 of the 468 New Jersey towns we compare have a lower share of households owning their home than Elizabeth.

$552KZillow home value

	Elizabeth	New Jersey towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	26%	77%	73%
Median rent	$1,523 a month	$1,780 a month	$1,185 a month
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent	54%	52%	48%

Typical home value

Elizabeth$552K

New Jersey$575K

Market temperature

days on market

101.8%

sale-to-list price

+2.9%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageElizabeth’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 2.9% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 8.3 years of income Rents$1,523 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of 4 of its 7 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Elizabeth

20pages on Elizabeth

The big questions

SchoolsCBehind 74% of NJ districts · 42 schools SafetyD3.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than NJ on 2 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingD$552K typical home · up 2.9% in a year Work & commuteC⁺$67K median household income · 47,343 jobs here Natural hazardsB⁺FEMA risk higher than 28% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsB⁻3 mi of trails · 2% conserved land PlacesAttractions632 nearby · Newark Metropolitan Airport Buildings 3 mi LibraryD2.6 library visits per resident CollegesYeshivas Be'er Yitzchok, in town

The story

HistoryA⁺Settled 1665 · 10 on the National Register Famous people33 born in Elizabeth Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 102 residents Climate86° summer highs · 32″ of snow

Day to day

News25 recent stories about Elizabeth WeatherHandbookZIP code 07201, 07202, 07207 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

105 within 15 miles of the center of Elizabeth

Yeshivas Be'er YitzchokUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · ElizabethIn town$11,450 tuition Kean UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Union2.2 mi$14,299 in-state tuition Essex County CollegeCommunity college · Public · Newark5 mi$5,415 in-state tuition

About 5 of every 100 Elizabeth residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Jersey.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

College town

Yeshivas Be'er Yitzchok calls Elizabeth home

Yeshivas Be'er Yitzchok52 students on campus

Admission: 86%
Net price: $28,599
Graduate: 14%

College Scorecard · IPEDS

Landmarks

10 places in Elizabeth on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Boxwood HallNational Historic Landmark

First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth

St. John's Parsonage

Elizabeth Station

Famous people from Elizabeth

33 notable people were born in Elizabeth.

See all 33 →

Nicholas Murray ButlerAmerican philosopher, diplomat, and educator · 1862–1947

Thomas MitchellAmerican actor, playwright and screenwriter · 1892–1962

Rick BarryAmerican basketball player · born 1944

William Halsey Jr.United States admiral · 1882–1959

Judy BlumeAmerican children's writer · born 1938

Chuck FeeneyAmerican businessman · 1931–2023

About Elizabeth

City in New Jersey, United States

Official town website ↗

Elizabeth is a city in and the county seat of Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city retained its ranking as the state's fourth-most-populous city behind neighboring Newark, Jersey City and Paterson, with a population of 137,298, an increase of 12,329 (+9.9%) from the 2010 census count of 124,969, which in turn reflected an increase of 4,401 (3.7%) from the 120,568 counted in the 2000 census. The Population Estimates Program calculated a population of 141,675 for 2025, making it the 199th-most populous city in the nation and the fifth-most populous municipality of any type in the state, falling behind Lakewood Township.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1665
Area: 14 sq mi
Elevation: 16 ft
ZIP code: 07201, 07202, 07207
Area code: 908

Elizabeth’s neighbors

9 towns share a border with Elizabeth.

Explore the map →

How the neighbors grade

Town	NJ rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Elizabeth	#435	D	D	D	C	C
Union Township	#290	B⁻	D	B⁻	C⁺	A⁻
Newark	#453	D⁻	D	C⁻	D	D
Bayonne	#364	C	D	C⁺	C	B⁺
Linden	#360	C	D	—	C⁻	B
Hillside Township	#413	D	D	C⁻	C⁻	B⁻
Roselle Park	#153	A⁻	D	A⁻	B⁻	A
Kean University	—	—	—	—	—	—

Linden reports no FBI crime data of its own. Kean University isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Elizabeth with a neighbor →

Questions about Elizabeth

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Elizabeth, NJ a good place to live?

Elizabeth grades D overall, better than 6% of U.S. towns and #435 of 466 in New Jersey. It grades C for health, D for safety and C for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.

Is Elizabeth, NJ expensive?

Yes. That is 5.6 years of the area's median household income ($99,155 across the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.

What is Elizabeth, NJ known for?

33 notable people were born here, including Nicholas Murray Butler and Thomas Mitchell.

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