The Town FilesElizabeth, New Jersey
City in Union County · population 137,298 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $449,300
- Household income
- $66,555
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 35.8
Elizabeth is a city of 137,298 people in Union County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $449,300, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more walkable than 98% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 97% of New Jersey towns, better transit than 87% of New Jersey towns.
How Elizabeth ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elizabeth is worth $449,300, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 6.8 times the median household income of $66,555, which is more affordable than 6% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,523 a month. 25.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elizabeth | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $449,300 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,523 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $66,555 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 25.6% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Elizabeth
| People | Elizabeth | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.6% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 1.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 51.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 94.6% |
Weather in Elizabeth
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.5 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabeth since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 8, 2007 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
| March 14, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4264: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Union County
Union County had 229,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $84,322 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Elizabeth itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in Elizabeth
40 public schools with 28,951 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| John E. Dwyer Technology Academy | 9-12 | 1,404 | 13.9 |
| Elizabeth High School - Frank J Cicarell Academy | 9-12 | 1,291 | 19.0 |
| Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Health & Public Safety Academy | 9-12 | 1,291 | 14.5 |
| Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy | 9-12 | 1,156 | 13.4 |
| Terence C. Reilly School No 7 | 2-8 | 1,147 | 15.3 |
| William F. Halloran School No.22 | 2-8 | 1,145 | 14.9 |
| Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy | 9-12 | 1,022 | 17.0 |
| Toussaint L'Ouverture-Marquis de Lafayette School No. 6 | PK-8 | 1,015 | 12.7 |
| Juan Pablo Duarte - Jose Julian Marti School No 28 | PK-8 | 912 | 13.4 |
| Dr. Antonia Pantoja School No. 27 | PK-8 | 894 | 14.0 |
| Jerome Dunn Academy No 9 | K-8 | 866 | 14.9 |
| STATEN ISLAND SCHOOL OF CIVIC LEADERSHIP | PK-8 | 839 | 12.3 |
Towns near Elizabeth
- Hillside, NJ2.8 mi · 22,456 people · home $397,400
- Linden, NJ3.5 mi · 43,738 people · home $419,700
- Roselle, NJ3.6 mi · 22,695 people · home $379,900
- Roselle Park, NJ3.8 mi · 13,967 people · home $443,200
- Newark, NJ4.1 mi · 311,549 people · home $373,700
- Bayonne, NJ4.4 mi · 71,686 people · home $460,100
- Union, NJ4.4 mi · 59,728 people · home $451,300
- Irvington, NJ4.5 mi · 61,176 people · home $335,600
Elizabeth questions
Is Elizabeth, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elizabeth scores better for retirees than 0% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 1%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Elizabeth?
The median owner-occupied home in Elizabeth is valued at $449,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,555, so homes cost about 6.8 times income. Median rent is $1,523 a month.
What is the weather like in Elizabeth?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 31.5 inches of snow.
Does Elizabeth get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabeth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 8, 2007. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)