City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 158 in Los Angeles, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 202, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
The income gap between Los Angeles and Newark is significant: $81,939 median household versus $52,060. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,392 in Newark.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Newark costs less and Los Angeles 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.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Newark at $1,392 average has pockets that run $1,192 and others at $1,792: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Los Angeles and Newark are 2,437 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $541 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $52,060 in Newark, down $29,879 (36%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 136 in Newark, down 22 points (14%).
The move
Newark and Los Angeles are 2,437 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $541 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $29,879 (57%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 158 in Los Angeles, up 22 points (16%).
Los Angeles, CA
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 Los Angeles and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Newark rent is 28% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Newark is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $541/month back in your pocket ($6,492/year). Over five years that's $32,460 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 Los Angeles, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Newark is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
57% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 57% higher than Newark
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Los Angeles (about $29,879 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, Los Angeles 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
14% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 14% lower than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
158 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 158 in Los Angeles (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% 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 Los Angeles. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Los Angeles weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
Los Angeles
Winner77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Los Angeles averages about 77°F (83°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 77°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. Los Angeles 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 57% higher ($81,939), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°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 28% 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 14% lower than Los Angeles (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
Weather separates these metros: $1,933/month rent in Los Angeles at 77°F versus $1,392 in Newark at 54°F. Income runs $81,939 vs $52,060, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Newark rent at $1,392/month is still below Los Angeles's $1,933, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,392 in Newark and $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Los Angeles; Newark only makes sense when 54°F matches how you want to live year-round.
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 Los Angeles and Newark, plus other cities in CA and NJ.
