Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Arlington leads 20 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Newark
New Jersey
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Households earn $25,276 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (5.6%)
17% less violent crime than Newark
Homes cost $61k less ($251,300 vs $312,300)
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Newark, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $25,276/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$25,276
$71,736 vs $46,460/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
17% lower
482.9 vs 581.2 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$61k less
$251,300 vs $312,300
Arlington
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.7% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 307,355 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 20 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 20 and Newark wins 3. 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 Arlington to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $312,300 median home), income ($71,736 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Newark, NJ are about 1,382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.