Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Newark, NJ

    Is Newark a good place to live?

    Watch Newark

    Newark ranks #40 of 42 New Jersey cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (19/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $337,800
    +8.2% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,330
    per month
    Household income
    $48,416
    median
    Unemployment
    10.9%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Newark

    The median home value in Newark is $337,800 and median rent is $1,330 a month, against a median household income of $48,416. Homes cost about 7.0× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Newark crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across New Jersey the 2025 rate was 199 violent and 1,268 property crimes per 100,000 people — #39 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Newark, NJ

    Newark has about 307,188 residents, 10.9% unemployment and 12% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Newark with

    Newark vs Jersey CityNewark vs PatersonNewark vs ElizabethNewark vs Toms RiverNewark vs TrentonNewark vs CliftonNewark vs CamdenNewark vs Bayonne

    More: Where to move in New Jersey · Best counties in New Jersey

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report