City comparison
Yes. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 136 in Newark, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 159, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Newark is cheaper. Median rent is $1,392 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
The income gap between Virginia Beach and Newark is significant: $92,968 median household versus $52,060. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,392 in Newark.
Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach 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
Virginia Beach and Newark are 285 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,392 a month in Newark, down $322 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $52,060 in Newark, down $40,908 (44%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 136 in Newark, up 74 points (119%).
The move
Newark and Virginia Beach are 285 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $322 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $40,908 (79%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 74 points (54%).
Virginia Beach, VA
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 Virginia Beach and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Newark rent is 19% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Newark
Winner$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,392 a month in Newark versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Newark is 19% 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 $3,864, 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 Virginia Beach.
Planning to buy in Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
79% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 79% higher than Newark
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 79% higher in Virginia Beach (about $40,908 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, Virginia Beach 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
54% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 54% lower than Newark
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Newark
136 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 136 in Newark (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% lower in Virginia Beach. 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, Virginia Beach 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
20% more comfortable
Virginia Beach weather is 20% more comfortable than Newark
Virginia Beach
Winner59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Virginia Beach scores 20% 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 79% higher ($92,968), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 54% lower than Newark (62 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 19% 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Virginia Beach leads on safety (75/100 vs 51/100 in Newark). Typical rent is $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,392 in Newark; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Newark rent at $1,392/month is still below Virginia Beach's $1,714, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,392 in Newark and $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Virginia Beach; Newark only makes sense when you have walked the Newark ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,392 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Virginia Beach and Newark, plus other cities in VA and NJ.
