City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 174 in Phoenix, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,582 in Phoenix.
The income gap between Phoenix and Newark is significant: $81,332 median household versus $52,060. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,392 in Newark.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Newark costs less and Phoenix 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 crime gap is citywide. Newark has rougher pockets and Phoenix has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Phoenix and Newark are 2,131 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $190 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $52,060 in Newark, down $29,272 (36%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 136 in Newark, down 38 points (22%).
The move
Newark and Phoenix are 2,131 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, up $190 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $81,332 in Phoenix, up $29,272 (56%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 174 in Phoenix, up 38 points (28%).
Phoenix, AZ
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 Phoenix and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Newark rent is 12% cheaper than Phoenix
Phoenix
$1,582/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,582 in Phoenix, so Newark is 12% 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 $2,280, 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 Phoenix.
Planning to buy in Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
56% higher
Phoenix's median income is 56% higher than Newark
Phoenix
Winner$81,332
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 56% higher in Phoenix (about $29,272 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, Phoenix 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
22% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 22% lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
174 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 174 in Phoenix (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% 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. Phoenix can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
41% more comfortable
Phoenix weather is 41% more comfortable than Newark
Phoenix
Winner81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Phoenix averages about 81°F (87°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Phoenix averages around 81°F. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Phoenix scores 41% 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 56% higher ($81,332), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 81°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 12% 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 22% lower than Phoenix (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
Weather separates these metros: $1,582/month rent in Phoenix at 81°F versus $1,392 in Newark at 54°F. Income runs $81,332 vs $52,060, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Newark rent at $1,392/month is still below Phoenix's $1,582, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 43/100 in Phoenix and 51/100 in Newark.
Between Phoenix and Newark, Phoenix is ahead on climate — 81°F typical weather versus 54°F. Lean Newark instead when you would rather tolerate 54°F than optimize for Phoenix's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Newark when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Newark, plus other cities in AZ and NJ.
