Signals
Elizabeth
Perth Amboy
Opportunity
45 · Bottom 27%
vs41 · Bottom 19%
Climate
71 · Top 48%
vs71 · Top 48%
Physical resilience
49 · Bottom 41%
vs46 · Bottom 36%
Housing affordability
46 · Bottom 8%
vs40 · Bottom 4%
Schools
27 · Bottom 19%
vs21 · Bottom 12%
Access
99 · Top 14%
vs97 · Top 23%
Economic stability
57 · Bottom 43%
vs56 · Bottom 41%
Measured values
| Metric | Elizabeth | Perth Amboy | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 137,302 | 55,855 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $66,555 | $61,977 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,969 | $27,021 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 11,146/sq mi | 11,981/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $449,300 | $370,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,523 | $1,688 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 25.6% | 35.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 6.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.9% | 0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.6% | 15.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 20.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 87°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.6" | 46.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 2 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.9 min | 26.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.8 | 37.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 37 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.39 | 13.00 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 8.8% | 5.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 29.0% | 25.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 83.0% | 75.2% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Elizabeth
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Perth Amboy
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, earthquake.
Your best match
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Elizabeth
58
Your Score
53
Area Score
Perth Amboy
53
Your Score
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Elizabeth, NJ · Perth Amboy, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology