City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
Safety is where Memphis and Newark split most clearly. Newark scores 359 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis and $1,392 in Newark.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis costs less and Newark 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 crime gap is citywide. Newark has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Newark are 945 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $211 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $52,060 in Newark, up $324 (1%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 136 in Newark, down 359 points (73%).
The move
Newark and Memphis are 945 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $211 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $51,736 in Memphis, down $324 (1%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 495 in Memphis, up 359 points (264%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Memphis rent is 15% cheaper than Newark
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Newark
$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,392 in Newark, so Memphis is 15% 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 $2,532, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Memphis 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 Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Newark's median income is 1% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Newark
Winner$52,060
Median household income is $52,060 in Newark versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Newark (about $324 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
73% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 73% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Memphis 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. Memphis 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Newark on this page's weather index by 45%. Newark may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Newark is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($52,060). Start with Newark if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Newark is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 73% lower than Memphis (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Newark: Newark scores 51/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $1,392 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 40 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Newark vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,392 in Newark.
If safety drives your move, Newark is the stronger match (51/100 safety versus 11/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Memphis, treat $1,181/month rent and $51,736 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Newark, plus other cities in TN and NJ.
