Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 15 of 22 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
West Covina
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $352k less ($312,300 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $781/mo less ($1,273 vs $2,054)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $49,759/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 6.7%)
West Covina, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,759 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (6.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 29.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Newark
Key Differences at a Glance
Newark
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Newark
Median Home Value
$352k less
$312,300 vs $664,500
West Covina
Median Income
$49,759
$96,219 vs $46,460/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
59% lower
239.3 vs 581.2 per 100k
West Covina
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
6.7% vs 10.7% unemployment
West Covina
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Newark is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Covina leads 15 of 22 categories. Newark wins 7 and West Covina wins 15. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $664,500 median home), income ($46,460 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and West Covina, CA are about 2,419 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.