Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Trenton leads 13 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
43% less violent crime than Trenton
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
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 10% higher than Trenton
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($111,200 vs $312,300)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (10.2%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Rent averages $96/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,273)
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Median Income
$2,016
$46,460 vs $44,444/yr
Newark
Violent Crime
43% lower
581.2 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Trenton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$201k less
$111,200 vs $312,300
Trenton
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
10.2% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 10.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 5.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 38.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Trenton leads 13 of 23 categories. Newark wins 10 and Trenton 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $111,200 median home), income ($46,460 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Trenton, NJ are about 46 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.