City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Jacksonville and Newark. Jacksonville averages 68°F while Newark averages 54°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,465 versus $1,392.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Newark costs less and Jacksonville 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Newark in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Jacksonville and Newark are 832 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $73 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $52,060 in Newark, down $17,812 (25%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 136 in Newark, down 14 points (9%).
The move
Newark and Jacksonville are 832 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $73 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $69,872 in Jacksonville, up $17,812 (34%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 150 in Jacksonville, up 14 points (10%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Newark rent is 5% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Newark is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $73, or $876 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
34% higher
Jacksonville's median income is 34% higher than Newark
Jacksonville
Winner$69,872
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 34% higher in Jacksonville (about $17,812 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, Jacksonville 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
9% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 9% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in Newark. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Newark, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Jacksonville. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
Jacksonville
Winner68°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Jacksonville averages about 68°F (74°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 68°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. Jacksonville 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
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 34% higher ($69,872), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°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 5% 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 9% lower than Jacksonville (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: Jacksonville at $69,872 median income versus $52,060 in Newark. Housing ($1,392 in Newark, $1,465 in Jacksonville) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
With only $73 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Jacksonville and 51/100 in Newark.
If local pay drives your move, Jacksonville is the stronger match ($69,872 median income against $52,060). If an employer or family tie already points to Newark, treat $1,392/month rent and $52,060 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Newark when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Newark, plus other cities in FL and NJ.
