City comparison
Yes. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 167, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Newark and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Newark and St Petersburg. Newark averages 54°F while St Petersburg averages 77°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,392 versus $1,663.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Newark costs less and St Petersburg 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Newark at $1,392 average has pockets that run $1,192 and others at $1,792: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Newark and St Petersburg are 1,010 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $271 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $75,192 in St Petersburg, up $23,132 (44%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 165 in St Petersburg, up 29 points (21%).
The move
St Petersburg and Newark are 1,010 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $271 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $52,060 in Newark, down $23,132 (31%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 136 in Newark, down 29 points (18%).
Newark, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Newark and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Newark rent is 16% cheaper than St Petersburg
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Newark is 16% 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 $3,252, 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 St Petersburg.
Planning to buy in Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
44% higher
St Petersburg's median income is 44% higher than Newark
Newark
$52,060
St Petersburg
Winner$75,192
Median household income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 44% higher in St Petersburg (about $23,132 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, St Petersburg 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
18% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 18% lower than St Petersburg
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% 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. St Petersburg can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
St Petersburg weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Petersburg sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg 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
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 16% 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 18% lower than St Petersburg (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
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 44% higher ($75,192), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°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: St Petersburg at $75,192 median income versus $52,060 in Newark. Housing ($1,392 in Newark, $1,663 in St Petersburg) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
St Petersburg still pays more locally ($75,192 median income vs $52,060), which can offset the lease if your field pays St Petersburg rates.
Safety scores read 51/100 in Newark and 45/100 in St Petersburg.
Pick St Petersburg when your field pays toward $75,192 median income. Otherwise, Newark's case rests on a $1,392 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
Ready to move to Newark?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Newark when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Newark and St Petersburg, plus other cities in NJ and FL.
