Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Alexandria leads 18 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Newark
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $66,719 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.5 pts lower (3.2%)
62% less violent crime than Newark
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $343k less ($312,300 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $710/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,983)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $66,719/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$66,719
$113,179 vs $46,460/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
62% lower
219.1 vs 581.2 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
7.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Median Home Value
$343k less
$312,300 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 18 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 18 and Newark wins 5. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $312,300 median home), income ($113,179 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Newark, NJ are about 203 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.