Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 16 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
St. Petersburg
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
6% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Rent averages $137/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,410)
Cons
Median income trails St. Petersburg by $23,873/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 4.6%)
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $23,873 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Violent Crime
6% lower
581.2 vs 619.6 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$23,873
$70,333 vs $46,460/yr
St. Petersburg
Median Home Value
$23k less
$289,000 vs $312,300
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
6.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High | $289,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 259,343 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
St. Petersburg is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 16 of 23 categories. Newark wins 7 and St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $289,000 median home), income ($46,460 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and St. Petersburg, FL are about 1,017 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.