City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
The income gap between Portland and Newark is significant: $90,919 median household versus $52,060. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,655 in Portland and $1,392 in Newark.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Newark costs less and Portland 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
Portland and Newark are 2,430 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $263 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $52,060 in Newark, down $38,859 (43%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 136 in Newark, down 129 points (49%).
The move
Newark and Portland are 2,430 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $263 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $90,919 in Portland, up $38,859 (75%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 265 in Portland, up 129 points (95%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Newark rent is 16% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,655 in Portland, 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 $3,156, 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 Portland.
Planning to buy in Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
75% higher
Portland's median income is 75% higher than Newark
Portland
Winner$90,919
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 75% higher in Portland (about $38,859 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, Portland 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
49% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 49% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Portland weather is 25% more comfortable than Newark
Portland
Winner60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Portland scores 25% 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 75% higher ($90,919), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°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 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 49% lower than Portland (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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Portland at $90,919 median income versus $52,060 in Newark. Housing ($1,392 in Newark, $1,655 in Portland) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Portland still pays more locally ($90,919 median income vs $52,060), which can offset the lease if your field pays Portland rates.
Typical rent stays $1,392 in Newark and $1,655 in Portland.
If local pay drives your move, Portland is the stronger match ($90,919 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.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Portland and Newark, plus other cities in OR and NJ.
