What it's like to live in Newark
Newark is a small city in Delaware with commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Newark deals with rent well above the national average, unemployment above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average unemployment
- Air quality concerns
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How Newark compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Newark
Based on Newark's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,308
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $66,160 a year
- 59% of Newark renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$76,500
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $38,250
- Homes cost 5.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 17% above US
$1,654/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,654 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $382,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $382,500 · 59% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 37% above US
5.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.9%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
299 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1735/100k · Newark Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 27% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 19% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 27°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 62% above US
58% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is First State National Historical Park (15 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Newark's strongest points are commutes that run shorter than most cities and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and unemployment above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,654/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (19% of workers here already work from home), people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
Other places near Newark
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