Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita 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
Santa Clarita
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $357k less ($312,300 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1042/mo less ($1,273 vs $2,315)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $69,726/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 5.5%)
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $69,726 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Newark
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Newark
Median Home Value
$357k less
$312,300 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$69,726
$116,186 vs $46,460/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
72% lower
165.4 vs 581.2 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 10.7% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 225,850 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Newark is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 16 of 23 categories. Newark wins 7 and Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $669,200 median home), income ($46,460 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Santa Clarita, CA are about 2,440 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.