City comparison
Yes. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 136 in Newark, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 159, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
The income gap between Tampa and Newark is significant: $75,475 median household versus $52,060. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,701 in Tampa and $1,392 in Newark.
Tampa is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, 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 Tampa is the stronger move.
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
Tampa and Newark are 1,001 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $309 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $52,060 in Newark, down $23,415 (31%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 136 in Newark, up 43 points (46%).
The move
Newark and Tampa are 1,001 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $309 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $75,475 in Tampa, up $23,415 (45%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 93 in Tampa, down 43 points (32%).
Tampa, 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 Tampa and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Newark rent is 18% cheaper than Tampa
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Newark is 18% 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 $3,708, 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 Tampa.
Planning to buy in Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
45% higher
Tampa's median income is 45% higher than Newark
Tampa
Winner$75,475
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 45% higher in Tampa (about $23,415 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, Tampa 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
32% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 32% lower than Newark
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Newark
136 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 136 in Newark (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa is the easier city. Newark can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Tampa weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Tampa sits near 75°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. Tampa 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 45% higher ($75,475), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 75°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Newark (93 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Newark
Newark is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% 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.
Bottom line
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Tampa at $75,475 median income versus $52,060 in Newark. Housing ($1,392 in Newark, $1,701 in Tampa) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Safety still diverges (62/100 in Tampa vs 51/100 in Newark), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Safety scores read 62/100 in Tampa and 51/100 in Newark.
Tampa clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. Newark deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $1,392/month beats chasing $75,475 median income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tampa and Newark, plus other cities in FL and NJ.
