Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Los Angeles leads 15 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Newark
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,784 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (7.7%)
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $510k less ($312,300 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $518/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,791)
20% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $29,784/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 7.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Income
$29,784
$76,244 vs $46,460/yr
Los Angeles
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
7.7% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Newark
Violent Crime
20% lower
581.2 vs 728.5 per 100k
Newark
Median Home Value
$510k less
$312,300 vs $822,600
Newark
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 307,355 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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, Los Angeles leads 15 of 23 categories. Los Angeles wins 15 and Newark wins 8. 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 Los Angeles to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $312,300 median home), income ($76,244 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Newark, NJ are about 2,446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.