City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
Safety is where Houston and Newark split most clearly. Newark scores 134 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston and $1,392 in Newark.
Houston is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Newark makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Houston is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Newark has rougher pockets and Houston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Houston and Newark are 1,410 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $31 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $52,060 in Newark, down $12,753 (20%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 136 in Newark, down 134 points (50%).
The move
Newark and Houston are 1,410 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $31 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $64,813 in Houston, up $12,753 (24%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 270 in Houston, up 134 points (99%).
Houston, TX
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 Houston and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Houston rent is 2% cheaper than Newark
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Newark
$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,392 in Newark, so Houston is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $31, or $372 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 Houston? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Houston's median income is 24% higher than Newark
Houston
Winner$64,813
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $64,813 in Houston versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Houston (about $12,753 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, Houston 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
50% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 50% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% 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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Houston weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
Houston
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Houston scores 45% 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
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 24% higher ($64,813), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 70°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 better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 50% lower than Houston (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
Safety is the widest gap: Newark scores 51/100 versus 30/100 in Houston. Rent is $1,392/month in Newark and $1,361/month in Houston, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Newark vs 30/100 in Houston), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $64,813 in Houston versus $52,060 in Newark.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Newark; Houston only makes sense when you have walked the Houston ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,361 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Houston when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Newark, plus other cities in TX and NJ.
