Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Houston leads 16 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Newark
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (6.6%)
Homes cost $77k less ($235,000 vs $312,300)
Households earn $13,980 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Newark, NJ
Pros
49% less violent crime than Houston
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Median income trails Houston by $13,980/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Income
$13,980
$60,440 vs $46,460/yr
Houston
Median Home Value
$77k less
$235,000 vs $312,300
Houston
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.7% unemployment
Houston
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 86.8°F
Newark
Violent Crime
49% lower
581.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 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 | 263⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 307,355 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Houston is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Houston leads 16 of 23 categories. Houston wins 16 and Newark wins 7. 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 Houston to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $312,300 median home), income ($60,440 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Newark, NJ are about 1,410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.