Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Toledo leads 13 of 22 categories
Newark
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Toledo
Ohio
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
44% less violent crime than Toledo
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Toledo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $214k less ($98,800 vs $312,300)
Rent averages $419/mo less ($854 vs $1,273)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (8.2%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Median Income
$1,055
$46,460 vs $45,405/yr
Newark
Violent Crime
44% lower
581.2 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Toledo
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$214k less
$98,800 vs $312,300
Toledo
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
8.2% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 269,962 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Toledo leads 13 of 22 categories. Newark wins 9 and Toledo 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $98,800 median home), income ($46,460 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Toledo, OH are about 493 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.