Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 14 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355
San Francisco
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $1036k less ($312,300 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1043/mo less ($1,273 vs $2,316)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $90,229/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 5.4%)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $90,229 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Newark
Violent Crime
3% lower
581.2 vs 596.5 per 100k
Newark
Median Home Value
$1036k less
$312,300 vs $1,348,700
Newark
Summer Heat
25.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$90,229
$136,689 vs $46,460/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 31.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Newark is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 14 of 23 categories. Newark wins 9 and San Francisco wins 14. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($46,460 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and San Francisco, CA are about 2,590 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.