Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 19 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $549/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $40k less ($312,300 vs $352,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $41,296/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)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Surprise
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Households earn $41,296 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Median Home Value
$40k less
$312,300 vs $352,600
Surprise
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$41,296
$87,756 vs $46,460/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
81% lower
109.1 vs 581.2 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
6.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 10.7% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 19 of 23 categories. Newark wins 4 and Surprise wins 19. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $352,600 median home), income ($46,460 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Surprise, AZ are about 2,145 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.