Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Richmond 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 ✓ Safer
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $313k less ($312,300 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $580/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,853)
37% less violent crime than Richmond
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $40,158/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 6.9%)
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,158 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Newark
Violent Crime
37% lower
581.2 vs 923.1 per 100k
Newark
Median Home Value
$313k less
$312,300 vs $624,800
Newark
Summer Heat
16.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$40,158
$86,618 vs $46,460/yr
Richmond
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
6.9% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Newark is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 12 of 23 categories. Newark wins 11 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $624,800 median home), income ($46,460 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Richmond, CA are about 2,550 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.