City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,440 in Chicago.
The income gap between Chicago and Newark is significant: $77,902 median household versus $52,060. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,440 in Chicago and $1,392 in Newark.
Newark is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Chicago makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Newark is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Chicago and Newark are 703 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $48 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $52,060 in Newark, down $25,842 (33%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 136 in Newark, down 31 points (19%).
The move
Newark and Chicago are 703 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,440 a month in Chicago, up $48 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $77,902 in Chicago, up $25,842 (50%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 167 in Chicago, up 31 points (23%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Newark rent is 3% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,440/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,440 in Chicago, so Newark is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $48, or $576 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
50% higher
Chicago's median income is 50% higher than Newark
Chicago
Winner$77,902
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 50% higher in Chicago (about $25,842 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, Chicago 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
19% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 19% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% 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. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
5% more comfortable
Newark weather is 5% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Newark
Winner54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Chicago averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Chicago averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Newark scores 5% 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 Chicago 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 and professional growth
Chicago is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 50% higher here ($77,902). Start with Chicago if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Newark is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% 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.
Pick Newark if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (54°F) beat Chicago on this page's weather index by 5%. Chicago may pay more or cost less, but Newark is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Newark is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than Chicago (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: Chicago at $77,902 median income versus $52,060 in Newark. Housing ($1,392 in Newark, $1,440 in Chicago) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
With only $48 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 53°F in Chicago and 54°F in Newark.
Pick Chicago when your field pays toward $77,902 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 Chicago and Newark, plus other cities in IL and NJ.
