Signals
Hillsborough
Elizabeth
Opportunity
77 · Top 10%
vs45 · Bottom 27%
Climate
63 · Bottom 30%
vs71 · Top 48%
Physical resilience
55 · Bottom 47%
vs49 · Bottom 41%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 9%
vs46 · Bottom 8%
Schools
81 · Top 12%
vs27 · Bottom 19%
Access
87 · Bottom 34%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
89 · Top 1%
vs57 · Bottom 43%
Measured values
| Metric | Hillsborough | Elizabeth | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,585 | 137,302 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $144,112 | $66,555 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $69,767 | $28,969 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,822/sq mi | 11,146/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $435,700 | $449,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,986 | $1,523 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 79.9% | 25.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 5.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.6% | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.6% | 14.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 2.7% | 15.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 86°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.5" | 46.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 28 mi | 2 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 33.6 min | 28.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.3 | 35.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 37 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 11.45 | 13.39 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 33.0% | 8.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 65.2% | 29.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 16.3% | 83.0% | 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
Hillsborough
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
Elizabeth
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Hillsborough
79
Your Score
—
Area Score
Elizabeth
58
Your Score
53
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Hillsborough, NJ · Elizabeth, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology