Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Hartford leads 12 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
Newark
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460 ✓ Higher
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($198,900 vs $312,300)
11% less violent crime than Newark
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Rent averages $119/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,273)
Cons
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Newark by $4,619/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Newark, NJ
Pros
Households earn $4,619 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Hartford
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Violent Crime
11% lower
515.8 vs 581.2 per 100k
Hartford
Median Home Value
$113k less
$198,900 vs $312,300
Newark
Median Income
$4,619
$46,460 vs $41,841/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $46,460 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 77.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hartford leads 12 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 12 and Newark wins 11. 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 Hartford to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $312,300 median home), income ($41,841 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Newark, NJ are about 106 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.