Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 14 of 20 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
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.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $28,916 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($312,300 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $354/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,627)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $28,916/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 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$28,916
$75,376 vs $46,460/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.7% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 86.8°F
Newark
Median Home Value
$105k less
$312,300 vs $417,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Lauderdale is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 14 of 20 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 14 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 Fort Lauderdale to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $312,300 median home), income ($75,376 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Newark, NJ are about 1,064 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.