Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 16 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $13,727/yr
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($171,800 vs $312,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.7%)
26% less violent crime than Newark
Households earn $13,727 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$13,727
$60,187 vs $46,460/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
26% lower
427.2 vs 581.2 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$141k less
$171,800 vs $312,300
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 303,843 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 16 of 23 categories. Newark wins 7 and Pittsburgh wins 16. 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $171,800 median home), income ($46,460 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Pittsburgh, PA are about 305 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.