Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami, FL
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Miami leads 16 of 23 categories
Miami
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,858 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Newark
New Jersey
7
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.
Miami, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (5.0%)
19% less violent crime than Newark
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 39°F
Households earn $8,398 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,494/mo
Property crime (2995.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $122k less ($312,300 vs $433,900)
Rent averages $221/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,494)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Miami by $8,398/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Miami
Median Income
$8,398
$54,858 vs $46,460/yr
Miami
Violent Crime
19% lower
473.3 vs 581.2 per 100k
Miami
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Median Home Value
$122k less
$312,300 vs $433,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami, FL | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $433,900⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,494⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,858 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 132⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 143⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 78.8% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.2" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 443,665 ✓ Larger | 307,355 |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 30.1% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Miami is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Miami leads 16 of 23 categories. Miami 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 Miami to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($433,900 vs $312,300 median home), income ($54,858 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami, FL and Newark, NJ are about 1,089 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.