City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024-2025 FBI data for Newark.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Orlando and Newark. Orlando averages 71°F while Newark averages 54°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,747 versus $1,392.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Newark costs less and Orlando 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
Orlando and Newark are 936 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $355 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $52,060 in Newark, down $20,276 (28%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 136 in Newark, down 106 points (44%).
The move
Newark and Orlando are 936 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $355 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $72,336 in Orlando, up $20,276 (39%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 242 in Orlando, up 106 points (78%).
Orlando, FL
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 Orlando and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Newark rent is 20% cheaper than Orlando
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Newark is 20% 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 $4,260, 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 Orlando.
Planning to buy in Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
39% higher
Orlando's median income is 39% higher than Newark
Orlando
Winner$72,336
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 39% higher in Orlando (about $20,276 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, Orlando 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
44% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 44% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Orlando 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
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 39% higher ($72,336), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°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 20% 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 44% lower than Orlando (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Newark: Newark scores 51/100 versus 33/100 in Orlando, with typical rent at $1,392 versus $1,747. I would vet the exact ZIP in Orlando before trading 18 safety points for housing savings.
Newark rent at $1,392/month is still below Orlando's $1,747, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 71°F in Orlando and 54°F in Newark.
Newark clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Orlando deserves a serious look only when you already know the Orlando block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Orlando and Newark, plus other cities in FL and NJ.
