City comparison
Yes. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
The income gap between Newark and Richmond is significant: $52,060 median household versus $64,587. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,392 in Newark and $1,372 in Richmond.
Richmond 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 Richmond is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Newark and Richmond are 282 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $20 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $64,587 in Richmond, up $12,527 (24%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 169 in Richmond, up 33 points (24%).
The move
Richmond and Newark are 282 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $20 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $52,060 in Newark, down $12,527 (19%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 136 in Newark, down 33 points (20%).
Newark, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Newark and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Richmond rent is 1% cheaper than Newark
Newark
$1,392/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,392 in Newark, so Richmond is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $20, or $240 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Richmond's median income is 24% higher than Newark
Newark
$52,060
Richmond
Winner$64,587
Median household income is $64,587 in Richmond versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Richmond (about $12,527 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, Richmond 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
20% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 20% lower than Richmond
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% 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. Richmond can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
13% more comfortable
Richmond weather is 13% more comfortable than Newark
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Richmond
Winner57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond scores 13% 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 20% lower than Richmond (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
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond 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 24% higher ($64,587), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 57°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Richmond at $64,587 median income versus $52,060 in Newark. Housing ($1,392 in Newark, $1,372 in Richmond) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Newark and 57°F in Richmond.
If local pay drives your move, Richmond is the stronger match ($64,587 median income against $52,060). If an employer or family tie already points to Newark, treat $1,392/month rent and $52,060 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Safety scores read 51/100 in Newark and 44/100 in Richmond.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Richmond when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Newark and Richmond, plus other cities in NJ and VA.
