City comparison
Yes. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 189 in Lubbock, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 221, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lubbock is cheaper. Median rent is $1,182 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Newark and Lubbock. Newark averages 54°F while Lubbock averages 62°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,392 versus $1,182.
Lubbock 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 Lubbock is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Newark has rougher pockets and Lubbock has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Newark and Lubbock are 1,595 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,182 a month in Lubbock, down $210 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $60,895 in Lubbock, up $8,835 (17%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 189 in Lubbock, up 53 points (39%).
The move
Lubbock and Newark are 1,595 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,182 a month in Lubbock to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $210 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $60,895 in Lubbock to $52,060 in Newark, down $8,835 (15%).
The crime index goes from 189 in Lubbock to 136 in Newark, down 53 points (28%).
Newark, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lubbock, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Newark and Lubbock? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Lubbock rent is 15% cheaper than Newark
Newark
$1,392/mo
Lubbock
Winner$1,182/mo
Typical rent runs $1,182 a month in Lubbock versus $1,392 in Newark, so Lubbock 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 $2,520, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Lubbock 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 Lubbock? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Lubbock's median income is 17% higher than Newark
Newark
$52,060
Lubbock
Winner$60,895
Median household income is $60,895 in Lubbock versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Lubbock (about $8,835 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, Lubbock 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
28% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 28% lower than Lubbock
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Lubbock
189 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 189 in Lubbock (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% 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. Lubbock can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Lubbock weather is 33% more comfortable than Newark
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Lubbock
Winner62°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 92/100
Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs); Lubbock averages about 62°F (70°F highs). Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Lubbock averages around 62°F. Lubbock scores 33% 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
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 28% lower than Lubbock (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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Lubbock is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,182 a month. Choose Lubbock 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 17% higher ($60,895), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Newark scores 51/100 versus 41/100 in Lubbock. Rent is $1,392/month in Newark and $1,182/month in Lubbock, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Newark vs 41/100 in Lubbock), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,182 in Lubbock and $1,392 in Newark.
Between Newark and Lubbock, Newark is ahead on safety — 51/100 safety versus 41/100. Lean Lubbock instead when you already know the Lubbock block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Newark and Lubbock, plus other cities in NJ and TX.
