City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 183 in Oklahoma City, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 197, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oklahoma City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,130 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
The income gap between Oklahoma City and Newark is significant: $68,656 median household versus $52,060. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,392 in Newark.
Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Oklahoma City at $1,130 average has pockets that run $930 and others at $1,530: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Oklahoma City and Newark are 1,316 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $262 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $52,060 in Newark, down $16,596 (24%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 136 in Newark, down 47 points (26%).
The move
Newark and Oklahoma City are 1,316 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, down $262 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, up $16,596 (32%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 183 in Oklahoma City, up 47 points (35%).
Oklahoma City, OK
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 Oklahoma City and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Oklahoma City rent is 19% cheaper than Newark
Oklahoma City
Winner$1,130/mo
Newark
$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City versus $1,392 in Newark, so Oklahoma City is 19% 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 $3,144, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Oklahoma City's median income is 32% higher than Newark
Oklahoma City
Winner$68,656
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Oklahoma City (about $16,596 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, Oklahoma City 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
26% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 26% lower than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
183 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 183 in Oklahoma City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% 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. Oklahoma City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
29% more comfortable
Oklahoma City weather is 29% more comfortable than Newark
Oklahoma City
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oklahoma City scores 29% 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
Oklahoma City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,130 a month. Choose Oklahoma City 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 32% higher ($68,656), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°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 better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than Oklahoma City (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 42/100 in Oklahoma City). Typical rent is $1,392 in Newark and $1,130 in Oklahoma City; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Newark vs 42/100 in Oklahoma City), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,392 in Newark.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Newark; Oklahoma City only makes sense when you have walked the Oklahoma City ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,130 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Oklahoma City when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oklahoma City and Newark, plus other cities in OK and NJ.
