Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 16 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $1197k less ($312,300 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1698/mo less ($1,273 vs $2,971)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $102,692/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 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $102,692 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Newark
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Newark
Median Home Value
$1197k less
$312,300 vs $1,508,900
Newark
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$102,692
$149,152 vs $46,460/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
58% lower
243.2 vs 581.2 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | San Mateo, 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 | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Newark is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 16 of 23 categories. Newark wins 7 and San Mateo 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 San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($46,460 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and San Mateo, CA are about 2,557 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.