City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 216 in Indianapolis, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 246, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Indianapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,156 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
Safety is where Indianapolis and Newark split most clearly. Newark scores 80 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,156 in Indianapolis and $1,392 in Newark.
Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Indianapolis at $1,156 average has pockets that run $956 and others at $1,556: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Indianapolis and Newark are 635 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,156 a month in Indianapolis to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $236 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $66,219 in Indianapolis to $52,060 in Newark, down $14,159 (21%).
The crime index goes from 216 in Indianapolis to 136 in Newark, down 80 points (37%).
The move
Newark and Indianapolis are 635 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,156 a month in Indianapolis, down $236 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $66,219 in Indianapolis, up $14,159 (27%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 216 in Indianapolis, up 80 points (59%).
Indianapolis, IN
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 Indianapolis and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Indianapolis rent is 17% cheaper than Newark
Indianapolis
Winner$1,156/mo
Newark
$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,156 a month in Indianapolis versus $1,392 in Newark, so Indianapolis is 17% 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 $2,832, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Indianapolis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Newark.
Planning to buy in Indianapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
27% higher
Indianapolis's median income is 27% higher than Newark
Indianapolis
Winner$66,219
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $66,219 in Indianapolis versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Indianapolis (about $14,159 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, Indianapolis 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
37% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 37% lower than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
216 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 216 in Indianapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% 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. Indianapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
13% more comfortable
Indianapolis weather is 13% more comfortable than Newark
Indianapolis
Winner57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Indianapolis averages about 57°F (66°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Indianapolis averages around 57°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. Indianapolis scores 13% 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
Indianapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,156 a month. Choose Indianapolis 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 27% higher ($66,219), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 57°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 37% lower than Indianapolis (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 37/100 in Indianapolis. Rent is $1,392/month in Newark and $1,156/month in Indianapolis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Newark vs 37/100 in Indianapolis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,156 in Indianapolis and $1,392 in Newark.
Newark is ahead on safety (51/100 vs 37/100); Indianapolis is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,156/month rent plus $66,219 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Indianapolis and Newark, plus other cities in IN and NJ.
