City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
Safety is where Cleveland and Newark split most clearly. Newark scores 205 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,060 in Cleveland and $1,392 in Newark.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Cleveland is the easier city on typical rent, but Newark can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Cleveland and Newark are 395 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $332 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $52,060 in Newark, down $12,408 (19%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 136 in Newark, down 205 points (60%).
The move
Newark and Cleveland are 395 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $332 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $64,468 in Cleveland, up $12,408 (24%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 341 in Cleveland, up 205 points (151%).
Cleveland, OH
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 Cleveland and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 24% cheaper than Newark
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Newark
$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,392 in Newark, so Cleveland is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $332/month back in your pocket ($3,984/year). Over five years that's $19,920 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Newark, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cleveland is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Cleveland's median income is 24% higher than Newark
Cleveland
Winner$64,468
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $64,468 in Cleveland versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Cleveland (about $12,408 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, Cleveland 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
60% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 60% lower than Cleveland
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 60% 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. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
8% more comfortable
Newark weather is 8% more comfortable than Cleveland
Cleveland
52°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 64/100
Newark
Winner54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Cleveland averages about 52°F (58°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Cleveland averages around 52°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 8% 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 Cleveland 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
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Cleveland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($64,468). Start with Cleveland 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
Pick Newark if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (54°F) beat Cleveland on this page's weather index by 8%. Cleveland 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 60% lower than Cleveland (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Newark: Newark scores 51/100 versus 23/100 in Cleveland, with typical rent at $1,392 versus $1,060. I would vet the exact ZIP in Cleveland before trading 28 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Newark vs 23/100 in Cleveland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $64,468 in Cleveland versus $52,060 in Newark.
Newark clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Cleveland deserves a serious look only when you already know the Cleveland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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