Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 15 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($312,300 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $553/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,826)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $31,610/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 5.8%)
Ontario, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,610 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Median Home Value
$201k less
$312,300 vs $513,000
Ontario
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Median Income
$31,610
$78,070 vs $46,460/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
53% lower
272.2 vs 581.2 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 10.7% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 6.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 19.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.9% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 15 of 23 categories. Newark wins 8 and Ontario wins 15. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $513,000 median home), income ($46,460 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Ontario, CA are about 2,404 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.