What it's like to live in Newark
Newark is a large city in New Jersey with schools with class sizes near the national average and public transit that many commuters actually use. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Newark deals with unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Average class sizes
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Low college degree attainment
- Below-average hospital ratings
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
$2,784
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,680 a year
- 54% of Newark renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$74,740
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,370
- Homes cost 7.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,392/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,392 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $373,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $373,700 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 79% above US
7.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 7.7%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 57% above US
517 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1789/100k · Newark Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 25% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32.6 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 19% take public transit; 7% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°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
Healthcare
5 hospitals
There are 5 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 45% below US
20% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
85 public schools inside the boundary
There are 85 public schools inside the boundary and 5 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 Thomas Edison National Historical Park (5 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Newark's strongest point is public transit that many commuters actually use; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,392/mo) equals 32% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people who would rather not drive. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Newark
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