City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
The income gap between Raleigh and Newark is significant: $85,395 median household versus $52,060. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,392 in Newark.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Newark costs less and Raleigh 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Raleigh and Newark are 420 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $180 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $52,060 in Newark, down $33,335 (39%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 136 in Newark, down 6 points (4%).
The move
Newark and Raleigh are 420 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $180 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $33,335 (64%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 142 in Raleigh, up 6 points (4%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Newark rent is 11% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Newark is 11% 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 $2,160, 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 Raleigh.
Planning to buy in Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
64% higher
Raleigh's median income is 64% higher than Newark
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 64% higher in Raleigh (about $33,335 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, Raleigh 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
4% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 4% lower than Raleigh
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 142 in Raleigh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Newark. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Newark, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Raleigh. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 25% more comfortable than Newark
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh 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 64% higher ($85,395), 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 11% 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 4% lower than Raleigh (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: Raleigh at $85,395 median income versus $52,060 in Newark. Housing ($1,392 in Newark, $1,572 in Raleigh) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
With only $180 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,392 in Newark and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Pick Raleigh when your field pays toward $85,395 median income. Otherwise, Newark's case rests on a $1,392 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
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 Raleigh and Newark, plus other cities in NC and NJ.
