Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Eugene leads 17 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755
Newark
New Jersey
6
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.
Eugene, OR
Pros
45% less violent crime than Newark
Households earn $15,021 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (7.1%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $94k less ($312,300 vs $406,000)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Eugene by $15,021/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 7.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Eugene
Median Income
$15,021
$61,481 vs $46,460/yr
Eugene
Violent Crime
45% lower
317.9 vs 581.2 per 100k
Eugene
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
7.1% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Median Home Value
$94k less
$312,300 vs $406,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Eugene is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 17 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 17 and Newark wins 6. 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 Eugene to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $312,300 median home), income ($61,481 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Newark, NJ are about 2,471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.