In 2008, Elizabeth was named one of "America's 50 Greenest Cities" by Popular Science magazine, the only city in New Jersey selected.
As of the census of 2000, there were 120,568 people, 40,482 households, and 28,170 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,809.5/km² (9,865.5/mi²). There were 42,838 housing units at an average density of 1,353.5/km² (3,505.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.78% White, 19.98% African American, 0.48% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 15.51% from other races, and 5.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 55.46% of the population.
The nation where the highest number of foreign-born inhabitants of Elizabeth were born was Colombia, which was the birthplace of 8,731 Elizabeth residents as of the 2000 Census. This exceeded the combined total of Mexico and Central America of 8,214. It also far exceeded the next highest single nation count of Cuba at 5,812. The largest number for a non-Spanish speaking country and third highest overall was immigrants from Portugal numbering 4,544. The next to largest groups were Salvadoran immigrants numbering 4,043, Peruvians 3,591 and Jamaican immigrants of whom there were 3,492.
There were 40,482 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.45.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,175, and the median income for a family was $38,370. Males had a median income of $30,757 versus $23,931 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,114. About 15.6% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 17.2% of those age 65 or over.
Elizabeth is a hub of several major roadways including the New Jersey Turnpike / Interstate 95, Interstate 78, U.S. Route 1/9, U.S. Route 22, Route 27, Route 28, Route 82 and Route 439. Elizabeth's own street plan, in contrast to the more usual grid plan, is to a large degree circular, with circumferential and radial streets centered on the central railroad station.
Elizabeth is among the U.S. cities with the highest transit ridership.
It has two train stations on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line and the Northeast Corridor Line. Elizabeth Station also called Broad Street Elizabeth or Midtown Station is the southern station in Midtown Elizabeth. The other train station in Elizabeth is North Elizabeth Station.
New Jersey Transit is planning a segment of the Newark-Elizabeth Rail Link (NERL), designated as the Union County Light Rail (UCLR). The UCLR will connect Midtown Station with Newark Liberty International Airport and have seven or eight other stations in between within Elizabeth city limits. A possible extension of this future line to Plainfield would link the city of Elizabeth with the Raritan Valley Line.
In addition, the Colombian airline Avianca operates a private bus service from John F. Kennedy Airport to Union City and Elizabeth for passengers on Avianca flights departing from and arriving to JFK.