Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Tacoma leads 13 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
45% less violent crime than Tacoma
Homes cost $103k less ($312,300 vs $415,300)
Rent averages $216/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,489)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $32,625/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 5.4%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $32,625 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Newark
Violent Crime
45% lower
581.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Newark
Median Home Value
$103k less
$312,300 vs $415,300
Newark
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$32,625
$79,085 vs $46,460/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Newark is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tacoma leads 13 of 23 categories. Newark wins 10 and Tacoma wins 13. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $415,300 median home), income ($46,460 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Tacoma, WA are about 2,403 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.