Elizabeth, NJ — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 135,887 · New Jersey · Updated May 2026
Population
135,887
Median Income
$63,874
Home Price
$531,592
Unemployment
6.9%
Poverty Rate
15.3%
Bachelor's+
14.2%
Full Demographics — Elizabeth, NJ
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 135,887 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 50.6% | 13.8% | |
| White | 24.8% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 17.1% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 1.8% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 66.8% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $63,874 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $28,490 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $77,416 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 15.3% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 14.2% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $531,592 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.4% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 218 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1426 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 34.8% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 13.7% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 17.8% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 28.1% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 14.9% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 15.0% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.7 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 29.3 min | 27.0 min |
Compare Elizabeth with Another City
Popular Comparisons
About Elizabeth, NJ
Elizabeth is a city in New Jersey, United States. With a population of 135,887, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Elizabeth shows stronger violent crime rate (218/100K violent crime vs 380/100K violent crime US avg) and air quality (75% good air days vs 70% good air days US avg). However, the city has a higher educational attainment at 14.2% bachelor's degree, compared to the US average of 35.8% bachelor's degree. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.