Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 McAllen leads 21 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
21
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Newark
New Jersey
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
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.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($158,700 vs $312,300)
74% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (5.4%)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Rent averages $318/mo less ($955 vs $1,273)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Cost of living runs 27% higher than McAllen
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails McAllen by $9,866/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$9,866
$56,326 vs $46,460/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
74% lower
150.0 vs 581.2 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$154k less
$158,700 vs $312,300
McAllen
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.7% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 21 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 21 and Newark wins 2. 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 McAllen to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $312,300 median home), income ($56,326 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Newark, NJ are about 1,702 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.