Living in Newark, NJ

Newark sits comfortably below national crime averages. The violent crime index is 55 against a national baseline of 100, and property crime registers at 66. Most neighborhoods feel safe for walking, errands, and daily life. Like anywhere, some areas need more caution than others — ask locals or check precinct maps before picking a neighborhood. Data from the FBI UCR.

Housing takes a real bite out of paychecks in Newark. At $1,330/month median rent and $48,416/year median household income, the rent-to-income ratio is 33.0%. That's past the 30% threshold that most experts flag as the upper limit of comfortable spending on housing. Dual incomes help. So does looking at neighborhoods outside the trendy core. But if you're moving from a cheaper market, prepare for sticker shock. Census ACS 2023.

Longer than most cities — 31 minutes on average, and that's just the mean. Peak-hour drives can easily hit 45-60 minutes. 50.4% drive solo, 18.6% take transit, and 6.1% work remotely. If you're house-hunting in Newark, treat commute time as a first-tier consideration, not an afterthought. The wrong location can cost you an hour a day.

Not particularly. The climate risk score is 28/100, which puts Newark in the low-risk tier. Flood, Heat Wave, and Hurricane are the most relevant hazards, but none of them are frequent concerns. Standard insurance should have you covered. It's one less thing to worry about if you're comparing this city to higher-risk metros along the coast or in tornado alley. Data from FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA.

Mixed. The city-wide graduation rate is 78.0% and classrooms average 12 students per teacher. Some schools here are legitimately excellent — strong test scores, engaged communities, good resources. Others struggle. The gap between the best and worst is wider than you might expect. Do your homework on individual schools rather than relying on the city-wide number.

Somewhat. Expect to pay around $259/month for electricity, gas, water, and sewer — that's about $29 more than the national average of $230. Extreme temperatures (hot summers or cold winters), older housing stock, or higher local energy rates can all push bills up. Budget for seasonal peaks, and look into energy-efficient appliances if you're buying.

Good, overall. The median AQI sits at 46, which falls within the EPA's "Good" category, and Newark logs 250 clean-air days annually. Ozone is the main pollutant. Occasional spikes happen — wildfire smoke, temperature inversions, or high-ozone days — but they're the exception, not the rule. Check AirNow.gov during allergy season or summer heat waves.

The data gives reason for caution. Newark's water system scores just 50/100, with 1 health-based violation and a "high" lead risk rating. That doesn't necessarily mean it's dangerous to drink right now — utilities must meet EPA minimums — but the track record suggests a good water filter isn't optional here. Check the EWG Tap Water Database for specific contaminants and make your own call.

Everything on this page is built from public government sources: rent and income figures from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023); commute and transportation data from Census ACS tables B08303 and B08006; crime rates from the FBI Uniform Crime Report; climate risk assessments using FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA storm records; air quality measurements from the EPA's Air Quality System database; water quality compliance data from EPA records and the EWG Tap Water Database; school data from the National Center for Education Statistics; utility cost estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. We refresh each dataset monthly through an automated pipeline and cross-check for anomalies. No surveys, no user-submitted guesses — just official federal data presented in a way that's actually useful for people researching a move.