Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 17 of 22 categories
Newark
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $456/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,729)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $42,006/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than San Tan Valley
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $42,006 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 39°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$42,006
$88,466 vs $46,460/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
59% lower
235.7 vs 581.2 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 10.7% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 17 of 22 categories. Newark wins 5 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $304,000 median home), income ($46,460 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 2,112 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.