City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
The income gap between Atlanta and Newark is significant: $85,652 median household versus $52,060. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,392 in Newark.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Newark costs less and Atlanta pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Newark at $1,392 average has pockets that run $1,192 and others at $1,792: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Atlanta and Newark are 740 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $319 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $52,060 in Newark, down $33,592 (39%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 136 in Newark, down 61 points (31%).
The move
Newark and Atlanta are 740 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $319 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $33,592 (65%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 197 in Atlanta, up 61 points (45%).
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Newark, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Atlanta and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Newark rent is 19% cheaper than Atlanta
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so Newark is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,828, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Newark still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Atlanta.
Planning to buy in Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
65% higher
Atlanta's median income is 65% higher than Newark
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 65% higher in Atlanta (about $33,592 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Atlanta is the stronger labor market on paper. Newark can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
31% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 31% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Newark. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Newark is the easier city. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
29% more comfortable
Atlanta weather is 29% more comfortable than Newark
Atlanta
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Atlanta scores 29% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Newark if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 65% higher ($85,652), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Newark is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,392 a month. Choose Newark if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Newark is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Atlanta (136 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Atlanta at $85,652 median income versus $52,060 in Newark. Housing ($1,392 in Newark, $1,711 in Atlanta) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Atlanta still pays more locally ($85,652 median income vs $52,060), which can offset the lease if your field pays Atlanta rates.
Typical rent stays $1,392 in Newark and $1,711 in Atlanta.
Pick Atlanta when your field pays toward $85,652 median income. Otherwise, Newark's case rests on a $1,392 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Atlanta and Newark, plus other cities in GA and NJ.
