City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 138 in Las Vegas, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Las Vegas and Newark. Las Vegas averages 70°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 $1,563 versus $1,392.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Newark costs less and Las Vegas 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
Las Vegas and Newark are 2,218 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $171 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $52,060 in Newark, down $21,817 (30%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 136 in Newark, down 2 points (1%).
The move
Newark and Las Vegas are 2,218 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $171 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $21,817 (42%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 138 in Las Vegas, up 2 points (1%).
Las Vegas, NV
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 Las Vegas and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Newark rent is 11% cheaper than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Newark is 11% 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 $2,052, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Newark still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Las Vegas.
Planning to buy in Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
42% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 42% higher than Newark
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Las Vegas (about $21,817 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, Las Vegas 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
1% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 1% lower than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
138 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 138 in Las Vegas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% 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 Las Vegas. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
Las Vegas
Winner70°F avg · 75°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Las Vegas averages about 70°F (75°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Las Vegas 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. Las Vegas 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 42% higher ($73,877), 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 clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% 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 1% lower than Las Vegas (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: Las Vegas at $73,877 median income versus $52,060 in Newark. Housing ($1,392 in Newark, $1,563 in Las Vegas) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
With only $171 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,392 in Newark and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
If local pay drives your move, Las Vegas is the stronger match ($73,877 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
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Nearby research
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