Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Las Vegas leads 18 of 23 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,356 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Newark
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Households earn $19,896 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (7.4%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Higher rents — median is $1,356/mo
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $53k less ($312,300 vs $365,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°F
Rent averages $83/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,356)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Las Vegas by $19,896/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)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Las Vegas
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Las Vegas
Median Income
$19,896
$66,356 vs $46,460/yr
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
26% lower
429.8 vs 581.2 per 100k
Las Vegas
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
7.4% vs 10.7% unemployment
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 86.8°F
Newark
Median Home Value
$53k less
$312,300 vs $365,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 ✓ Larger | 307,355 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Las Vegas is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 18 of 23 categories. Las Vegas wins 18 and Newark wins 5. 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 Las Vegas to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $312,300 median home), income ($66,356 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Newark, NJ are about 2,224 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.