City comparison
No. Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Austin is cheaper. Median rent is $1,729 a month versus $2,007 in Jersey City.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Austin and Jersey City. Austin averages 68°F while Jersey City averages 53°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,729 versus $2,007.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Austin costs less and Jersey City pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Jersey City in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Austin and Jersey City are 1,508 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $2,007 a month in Jersey City, up $278 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $97,710 in Jersey City, up $4,052 (4%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 135 in Jersey City, down 27 points (17%).
The move
Jersey City and Austin are 1,508 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,007 a month in Jersey City to $1,729 a month in Austin, down $278 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $97,710 in Jersey City to $93,658 in Austin, down $4,052 (4%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Jersey City to 162 in Austin, up 27 points (20%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Jersey City, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Jersey City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Austin rent is 14% cheaper than Jersey City
Austin
Winner$1,729/mo
Jersey City
$2,007/mo
Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $2,007 in Jersey City, so Austin is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,336, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Austin still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Jersey City.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Jersey City's median income is 4% higher than Austin
Austin
$93,658
Jersey City
Winner$97,710
Median household income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $93,658 in Austin, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Jersey City (about $4,052 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
17% lower crime
Jersey City's crime index is 17% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Jersey City
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% 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.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Austin weather is 52% more comfortable than Jersey City
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jersey City
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Jersey City averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Jersey City averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin scores 52% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Jersey City if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Austin if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Jersey City on this page's weather index by 52%. Jersey City may pay more or cost less, but Austin is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Jersey City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($97,710). Start with Jersey City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 17% lower than Austin (135 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.
Bottom line
On weather alone, Austin is the warmer market (68°F) and Jersey City the cooler (53°F). Typical leases run $1,729 and $2,007; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Jersey City still pays more locally ($97,710 median income vs $93,658), which can offset the lease if your field pays Jersey City rates.
Typical rent stays $1,729 in Austin and $2,007 in Jersey City.
Between Austin and Jersey City, Austin is ahead on climate — 68°F typical weather versus 53°F. Lean Jersey City instead when you would rather tolerate 53°F than optimize for Austin's comfort score.
Common questions
Ready to move to Austin?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Jersey City, plus other cities in TX and NJ.
