Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Shreveport leads 16 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Shreveport
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
53% less violent crime than Shreveport
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Shreveport
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)
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $143k less ($168,900 vs $312,300)
Rent averages $328/mo less ($945 vs $1,273)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (9.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Violent Crime
53% lower
581.2 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Shreveport
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$143k less
$168,900 vs $312,300
Shreveport
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
9.2% vs 10.7% unemployment
Shreveport
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 9.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 4.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 26.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 87.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 186,183 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Shreveport leads 16 of 23 categories. Newark wins 7 and Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $168,900 median home), income ($46,460 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Shreveport, LA are about 1,225 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.