Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Lancaster leads 14 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Newark
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,907 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Newark, NJ
Pros
30% less violent crime than Lancaster
Rent averages $303/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,576)
Homes cost $57k less ($312,300 vs $368,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $24,907/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 7.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$24,907
$71,367 vs $46,460/yr
Lancaster
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
7.5% vs 10.7% unemployment
Lancaster
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 86.8°F
Newark
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Newark
Violent Crime
30% lower
581.2 vs 834.7 per 100k
Newark
Median Home Value
$57k less
$312,300 vs $368,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Newark is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lancaster leads 14 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 14 and Newark wins 9. 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 Lancaster to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $312,300 median home), income ($71,367 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Newark, NJ are about 2,415 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.