Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 New Haven leads 13 of 23 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Newark
New Jersey
10
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.
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $76k less ($236,500 vs $312,300)
8% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (7.8%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,845 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Newark, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $129/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,402)
Cons
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Median income trails New Haven by $7,845/yr
Cost of living runs 14% higher than New Haven
Key Differences at a Glance
New Haven
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Median Income
$7,845
$54,305 vs $46,460/yr
New Haven
Violent Crime
8% lower
534.8 vs 581.2 per 100k
New Haven
Median Home Value
$76k less
$236,500 vs $312,300
New Haven
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
7.8% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 10.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Haven leads 13 of 23 categories. New Haven wins 13 and Newark wins 10. 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 New Haven to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $312,300 median home), income ($54,305 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and Newark, NJ are about 77 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.