Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Palmdale leads 12 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Palmdale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $352/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,625)
Homes cost $85k less ($312,300 vs $397,500)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Cons
Median income trails Palmdale by $31,954/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 7.4%)
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,954 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (7.4%)
5% less violent crime than Newark
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Newark
Median Home Value
$85k less
$312,300 vs $397,500
Palmdale
Median Income
$31,954
$78,414 vs $46,460/yr
Palmdale
Violent Crime
5% lower
551.0 vs 581.2 per 100k
Palmdale
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
7.4% vs 10.7% unemployment
Palmdale
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.9% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Newark is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palmdale leads 12 of 23 categories. Newark wins 11 and Palmdale wins 12. 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $397,500 median home), income ($46,460 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Palmdale, CA are about 2,415 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.