City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 209 in Louisville, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Louisville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,120 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
Safety is where Louisville and Newark split most clearly. Newark scores 73 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,120 in Louisville and $1,392 in Newark.
Louisville 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 Louisville is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Louisville at $1,120 average has pockets that run $920 and others at $1,520: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Louisville and Newark are 641 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $272 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $52,060 in Newark, down $14,789 (22%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 136 in Newark, down 73 points (35%).
The move
Newark and Louisville are 641 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,120 a month in Louisville, down $272 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $66,849 in Louisville, up $14,789 (28%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 209 in Louisville, up 73 points (54%).
Louisville, KY
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 Louisville and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Louisville rent is 20% cheaper than Newark
Louisville
Winner$1,120/mo
Newark
$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,120 a month in Louisville versus $1,392 in Newark, so Louisville is 20% 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 $3,264, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Louisville 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 Louisville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Louisville's median income is 28% higher than Newark
Louisville
Winner$66,849
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $66,849 in Louisville versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Louisville (about $14,789 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, Louisville 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
35% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 35% lower than Louisville
Louisville
209 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 209 in Louisville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% 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. Louisville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Louisville weather is 9% more comfortable than Newark
Louisville
Winner56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Louisville averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Louisville averages around 56°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. Louisville scores 9% 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
Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,120 a month. Choose Louisville 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 28% higher ($66,849), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 56°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 35% lower than Louisville (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 38/100 in Louisville. Rent is $1,392/month in Newark and $1,120/month in Louisville, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Newark vs 38/100 in Louisville), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,120 in Louisville and $1,392 in Newark.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Newark; Louisville only makes sense when you have walked the Louisville ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,120 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Louisville when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Louisville and Newark, plus other cities in KY and NJ.
