BestCityFor

Best city for remote work? Elizabeth, NJ

F
Score
31/100
Rank #196 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Elizabeth may not rank at the top for remote work, but it can be a fit if you care about typical rent (2br), plus median household income. Overall, it’s better for a specific set of priorities (#196 of 200). A common tradeoff is work-from-home share.

Methodology · Sources · NJ rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. That’s why some cities can look very different vs their surrounding region.

Why Elizabeth ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,520/mo (5% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Median household income: $63,874 (16% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 86% (6% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Work-from-home share: 6% (54% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Bachelor’s+ rate: 14% (59% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
135,887
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 50%Female 50%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,520/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Work-from-home share
6%
National median: 12%
Broadband subscription
86%
National median: 91%
Median household income
$63,874
National median: $75,598
Bachelor’s+ rate
14%
National median: 35%
Commute 45+ min share
15%
National median: 11%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and housing pressure.
61/100
Connectivity
Broadband availability as a practical remote-work proxy.
86/100
Workforce
Remote-work adoption and human-capital signals.
14/100
Comfort
Commute friction and climate comfort.
85/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

26%
Less than HS
60%
HS / Some college
10%
Bachelor’s
4%
Advanced

Work style

WFH vs not WFH (ACS).

6%
Work from home
94%
Not WFH

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

86%
Broadband
14%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,520/mo
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
86%
Work-from-home share
National median 12%
6%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$63,874
Bachelor’s+ rate
National median 35%
14%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
15%

Similar cities (by score)

#194 San Bernardino, CA
33/100
#195 Santa Ana, CA
31/100
#197 Miami, FL
30/100
#198 Bridgeport, CT
29/100

FAQ

›What is Elizabeth’s remote work score and rank?
Elizabeth, NJ scores F (31/100) and ranks #196 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Elizabeth city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level rankings can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Elizabeth, NJ?
Population is about 135,887 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Elizabeth, NJ?
About 50% male and 50% female (ACS 2023).
›What is a typical monthly rent in Elizabeth, NJ?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,520/mo (national median: $1,441/mo).
›What share of workers work from home in Elizabeth, NJ?
Work-from-home share is 6% (national median: 12%).
›How common is broadband internet in Elizabeth, NJ?
Broadband subscription is 86% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Elizabeth, NJ?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 26%, HS/some college 60%, bachelor’s 10%, advanced 4%.
›Where does this data come from for Elizabeth, NJ?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (job, neighborhood, commute, safety, schools, healthcare).