Elizabeth, NJ vs Hackensack, NJ

Elizabeth is moderately more affordable than Hackensack, with a 6.5% lower cost of living index. Elizabeth scores 116 compared to 124 for Hackensack, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hackensack can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Elizabeth is $1,463/month compared to $1,794/month in Hackensack — a 19% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Elizabeth has cheaper rent, Hackensack actually has lower median home values ($370,300 vs $393,500).

Median household income in Elizabeth is $63,874 compared to $82,212 in Hackensack (-22.3%). While Hackensack is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Elizabeth spend roughly 27.5% of their income on rent, more than the 26.2% in Hackensack.