Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale 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
Sunnyvale
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $1368k less ($312,300 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1717/mo less ($1,273 vs $2,990)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $128,046/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 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $128,046 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.6 pts lower (4.1%)
58% less violent crime than Newark
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Median Home Value
$1368k less
$312,300 vs $1,680,700
Newark
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 76.9°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$128,046
$174,506 vs $46,460/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
58% lower
244.5 vs 581.2 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
6.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Newark is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 16 of 23 categories. Newark wins 7 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($46,460 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Sunnyvale, CA are about 2,546 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.