Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Providence leads 17 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
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
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Providence by $14,905/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Providence
Providence, RI
Pros
52% less violent crime than Newark
Households earn $14,905 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (7.2%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Median Income
$14,905
$61,365 vs $46,460/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
52% lower
276.7 vs 581.2 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$19k less
$293,000 vs $312,300
Providence
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
7.2% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 82.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 47.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 17 of 23 categories. Newark wins 6 and Providence wins 17. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $293,000 median home), income ($46,460 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Providence, RI are about 162 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.