Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Norman leads 18 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Median income trails Norman by $16,389/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Norman
Norman, OK
Pros
55% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Homes cost $87k less ($224,900 vs $312,300)
Households earn $16,389 more per year on average
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Rent averages $269/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,273)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Income
$16,389
$62,849 vs $46,460/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
55% lower
260.2 vs 581.2 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$87k less
$224,900 vs $312,300
Norman
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 10.7% unemployment
Norman
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $62,849 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 37.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 4.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 18 of 23 categories. Newark wins 5 and Norman wins 18. 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 Newark to Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $224,900 median home), income ($46,460 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Norman, OK are about 1,313 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.