City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Safety is where Nashville and Newark split most clearly. Newark scores 146 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville and $1,392 in Newark.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Newark costs less and Nashville 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 Nashville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Nashville and Newark are 751 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $194 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $52,060 in Newark, down $25,311 (33%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 136 in Newark, down 146 points (52%).
The move
Newark and Nashville are 751 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $194 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $77,371 in Nashville, up $25,311 (49%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 282 in Nashville, up 146 points (107%).
Nashville, 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 Nashville and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Newark rent is 12% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Newark is 12% 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 $2,328, 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 Nashville.
Planning to buy in Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
49% higher
Nashville's median income is 49% higher than Newark
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 49% higher in Nashville (about $25,311 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, Nashville 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
52% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 52% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
41% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 41% more comfortable than Newark
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Nashville scores 41% 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 49% higher ($77,371), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°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 12% 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 52% lower than Nashville (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Newark leads on safety (51/100 vs 28/100 in Nashville). Typical rent is $1,392 in Newark and $1,586 in Nashville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Newark rent at $1,392/month is still below Nashville's $1,586, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 64°F in Nashville and 54°F in Newark.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Newark; Nashville only makes sense when you have walked the Nashville ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,586 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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