Elizabeth vs Jersey City, NJ
Property taxes, schools, NJ Transit pass and monthly cost for Elizabeth and Jersey City, side by side with sources.
At a glance
- Lower tax billElizabeth, $9,727 a year
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Elizabeth has the lower 2025 average residential tax bill: $9,727 a year, $1,525 less than $11,252 in Jersey City. Elizabeth is below the NJ average of $10,340 and Jersey City is above it.
- Median sale priceJersey City $520,000 vs Elizabeth $550,000
More info
The median single-family sale price is $520,000 in Jersey City and $550,000 in Elizabeth, $30,000 more (GSMLS, 2025 closed sales).
- Peak commuteElizabeth 29 min vs Jersey City 18.5 min
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Peak commute is 29 minutes in Elizabeth and 18.5 minutes by PATH to 33rd Street in Jersey City, 10.5 minutes shorter in Jersey City.
- Higher school resultsElizabeth: 4-year graduation, ELA; Jersey City: math
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On the district results, Elizabeth's district is higher on 4-year graduation (88.4% vs 78.3%) and ELA (46.7% vs 45.4%); Jersey City's district is higher on math (32.8% vs 28.4%).
Figures are from the data file, version 2.4.2. Estimates are labeled. Sources and dates are in each section below. Add a third town in the compare tool.
Monthly cost
Estimated monthly cost Estimate
- Mortgage (principal and interest)
- Property tax
- NJ Transit pass
- Elizabeth$4,222 / monthMortgage $2,999 · Property tax $968 · NJ Transit pass $255 · on a $550,000 median single-family home
More info
Each town uses its own headline median sale price, single-family unless the town's label says otherwise (GSMLS, 2025 closed sales), and its 2025 effective tax rate. Mortgage is the monthly mortgage in the data: Principal & interest only; excludes taxes and insurance. Calculated at a 7.24% 30-year fixed rate, 20% down, 30-year term. Excludes insurance, utilities, maintenance and HOA fees. Change the numbers in the calculator.
Not shown for Jersey City: The monthly cost estimate includes the NJ Transit rail pass to New York Penn Station, which does not apply to Jersey City (not on NJ Transit's rail-to-Penn fare chart; residents typically use PATH or the NY Waterway ferry (see fares)), so no estimate is shown.
Home prices
Median sale price, single-family
- Elizabeth$550,000133 sales
- Jersey City$520,00031 sales
Median sale price, condo / townhouse
- Elizabeth$307,00039 sales
- Jersey City$492,50050 sales
Monthly mortgage
- Elizabeth$2,999 / month
- Jersey City$2,835 / month
More info
Principal & interest only; excludes taxes and insurance. Based on the single-family median unless a town's row says otherwise.
Source: GSMLS, 2025 closed sales
Property taxes
Average residential tax bill, 2025
- Elizabeth$9,727 / year$613 below the NJ average
- Jersey City$11,252 / year$912 above the NJ average
- NJ average$10,340 / yearState total, same series as the town bills
More info
Bills compare better than raw tax rates, because towns assess homes at different shares of market value.
Schools
Meeting ELA standards
- Elizabeth46.7% Below NJ average
- Jersey City45.4% Below NJ average
- NJ state53.0%
Meeting math standards
- Elizabeth28.4% Below NJ average
- Jersey City32.8% Below NJ average
- NJ state42.0%
4-year graduation rate
- Elizabeth88.4% Below NJ average
- Jersey City78.3% Below NJ average
- NJ state91.8%
Chronic absenteeism
- Elizabeth14.3% Below NJ average
- Jersey City23.7% Above NJ average
- NJ state14.4%
Student:teacher ratio
- Elizabeth13:1
- Jersey City12:1
- NJ state12:1
Commute
NJ Transit adult monthly pass to NY Penn
- Elizabeth$255 / month
More info
Not shown for Jersey City: Not on NJ Transit's rail-to-Penn fare chart; residents typically use PATH or the NY Waterway ferry (see fares)
Peak commute time
- Elizabeth29 min
More info
Typical from North Elizabeth: 32 min, median trip time of the scheduled trips arriving 7:00-9:00 AM on Wed 2026-11-18 (one itinerary per departure; dominated options excluded). Based on 4 trips.
- Jersey City18.5 minPATH from Grove Street to 33rd Street (Midtown Manhattan)
More info
Typical from Grove Street (PATH): 18.5 min, median ride time of the direct scheduled PATH trips arriving 7:00-9:00 AM in PATH's weekday GTFS schedule (service through 2026-11-13); the count is for that schedule, not for Nov 18. Based on 28 trips.
PATH commute time
- Jersey City15 minNewport (PATH) to 33rd Street (PATH)
More info
Typical: 15 min, median ride time of the direct scheduled PATH trips arriving 7:00-9:00 AM in PATH's weekday GTFS schedule (service through 2026-11-13); the count is for that schedule, not for Nov 18. Based on 28 trips.
Ferry commute time
- Jersey City7 minPaulus Hook to Brookfield Place
More info
Typical: 8 min, median scheduled crossing time of the weekday ferry sailings from this terminal that arrive at the destination 7:00-9:00 AM in NY Waterway's published timetable. Based on 17 trips.
Full pages: Elizabeth · Jersey City. Find a local expert if you want help weighing these two towns.