City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
Climate is the sharpest divide between San Antonio and Newark. San Antonio averages 72°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 $1,324 versus $1,392.
San Antonio 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 San Antonio is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Newark has rougher pockets and San Antonio has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Antonio and Newark are 1,574 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $68 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $52,060 in Newark, down $12,996 (20%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 136 in Newark, down 76 points (36%).
The move
Newark and San Antonio are 1,574 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $68 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $65,056 in San Antonio, up $12,996 (25%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 212 in San Antonio, up 76 points (56%).
San Antonio, TX
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 San Antonio and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 5% cheaper than Newark
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Newark
$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,392 in Newark, so San Antonio is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $68, or $816 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
San Antonio's median income is 25% higher than Newark
San Antonio
Winner$65,056
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 25% higher in San Antonio (about $12,996 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, San Antonio 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
36% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 36% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. San Antonio can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
San Antonio
Winner72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°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. San Antonio 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
San Antonio is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,324 a month. Choose San Antonio 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 25% higher ($65,056), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°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 36% lower than San Antonio (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 37/100 in San Antonio, with typical rent at $1,392 versus $1,324. I would vet the exact ZIP in San Antonio before trading 14 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Newark vs 37/100 in San Antonio), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $52,060 in Newark.
Pick Newark when you want the stronger safety signal (51/100). Otherwise, San Antonio's case rests on a San Antonio ZIP you trust at $1,324 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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