Is Newark, NJ a Good Place to Live?
Newark is a large city of 307,355 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $46,460 and a 10.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.
Strengths: Newark's profile is close to national averages across most measures.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Newark is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Newark city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 112.5Newark's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Newark costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Newark, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $312,300 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageNewark's violent crime rate is 581.2 per 100,000 residents — 53% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Newark is served primarily by Newark Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Newark, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Newark Public School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 44 | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | 18 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 15.6:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 77.7% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Newark sees average highs of 39.4°F in January and 86.8°F in July, with 50.4 inches of annual precipitation and 28.2 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 39.4°F |
| Average High — July | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | Newark, NJ | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 307,355 | — |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 33.0 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 19.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 47.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 28.8% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 2.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 10.9% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Newark
Newark, NJ is covered by 9 ZIP codes: