Is Austin cheaper than Jersey City?

Yes. Typical rent in Austin is $1,852 a month versus $2,763 in Jersey City — 33% cheaper. Median household income is $86,556 in Austin compared with $91,151 in Jersey City, so Jersey City has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Austin or Jersey City?

Jersey City is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 109 in Austin — 38% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Austin or Jersey City?

Austin has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Jersey City — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

New search

City comparison

Austin, TX vs Jersey City, NJ

Austin, TX versus Jersey City, NJ is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,852 a month in Austin and $2,763 in Jersey City, and median household income lands at $86,556 versus $91,151. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Austin takes affordability and schools, while Jersey City takes job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Jersey City leads by 94% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Austin can feel further apart than Austin and Jersey City do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Austin and Jersey City reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Austin report Full Jersey City report

Austin, TX

Rent: $1,852/mo
Median income: $86,556
Crime index: 109
Schools: A
Weather: 91°F

Jersey City, NJ

Rent: $2,763/mo
Median income: $91,151
Crime index: 68
Schools: A-
Weather: 73°F

Rent

33% cheaper

Austin rent is 33% cheaper than Jersey City

Austin

Winner

$1,852/mo

Jersey City

$2,763/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,852 a month in Austin versus $2,763 in Jersey City, so Austin is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $911/month back in your pocket — $10,932/year. Over five years that's $54,660 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Jersey City, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Austin is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

5% higher

Jersey City's median income is 5% higher than Austin

Austin

$86,556

Jersey City

Winner

$91,151

What this means for your life

Median household income is $91,151 in Jersey City versus $86,556 in Austin, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Jersey City — about $4,595 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

38% lower crime

Jersey City's crime index is 38% lower than Austin

Austin

109 (100 = avg)

Jersey City

Winner

68 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Jersey City's crime index is 68 versus 109 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in Jersey City. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Jersey City is the easier city. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

5% higher scores

Austin's school scores are 5% higher than Jersey City

Austin

Winner

A · 88/100

Jersey City

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

Austin grades out at A (88/100) against A- (84/100) in Jersey City — school scores run 5% higher in Austin. The citywide gap is modest. For families with kids it is still worth checking the specific campuses you would actually use, because a small composite lead can disappear — or reverse — two neighborhoods over. Jersey City is only the better school story if a campus you already researched beats this composite.

Typical weather

94% more comfortable

Jersey City weather is 94% more comfortable than Austin

Austin

91°F typical

Jersey City

Winner

73°F typical

What this means for your life

Jersey City scores 94% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 91°F in Austin and 73°F in Jersey City. Austin reads as hot, long summers; Jersey City reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Jersey City is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Austin can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Austin

Families on a budget who want good schools without coastal price tags

Austin fits families on a budget who want good schools without coastal price tags. Lower typical rent ($1,852/month) plus stronger school scores (A) is the combination that actually changes a decade of life, not just a year of housing. Jersey City can still win if a specific campus or family network is already there — but on the public data, Austin is the more forgiving place to raise kids without overextending.

Open the Austin report →

Fit check

Who should choose Jersey City

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 5% higher ($91,151), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 73°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Jersey City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Austin (68 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Jersey City report →

Bottom line

Austin vs Jersey City, called

If weather is your priority, Jersey City is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Austin pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Jersey City offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Austin vs Jersey City FAQ

Is Austin cheaper than Jersey City?: Yes. Typical rent in Austin is $1,852 a month versus $2,763 in Jersey City — 33% cheaper. Median household income is $86,556 in Austin compared with $91,151 in Jersey City, so Jersey City has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Austin or Jersey City?: Jersey City is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 109 in Austin — 38% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Austin or Jersey City?: Austin has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Jersey City — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

Ready to move to Jersey City?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps