Places › New Jersey › Newark

Living in Newark, NJ

Big city in New Jersey

Newark is a big city in New Jersey, home to about 307,000 people, with 14.2 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, you can walk or take transit almost everywhere. Life moves at a very fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is Newark a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 27 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Easy flying: EWR is 2 mi away
  • Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
  • Big job market: about 14.2 million people live within 31 mi

👎 Cons

  • Higher taxes: about $2,267 state income tax per resident, 2.12% property tax
  • Cloudier than most places

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Newark ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
307,000
14.2 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
42°F / 84°F
Average daily highs · 28″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$450k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,760/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
113
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$2,267
State income tax per resident · 2.12% property tax
Safety
1.6× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
11 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, heat waves
Top-rated hospitals
27
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
17%
14 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
EWR
2 mi away

Living in Newark: common questions

What is the cost of living in Newark?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $450k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,760 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 113, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Newark?

New Jersey collects about $2,267 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 2.12% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Newark safe?

Violent crime is well above the national rate (1.6× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Newark?

Newark has cold winters: winter days average around 42°F and summer days around 84°F, with roughly 28″ of snow a year.

Does Newark get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and heat waves: 11 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.38 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Newark?

The nearest major airport is EWR, about 2 mi away.

How Newark scores

Each bar compares Newark with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Major metro Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Dense & urban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Walk & transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Strong culture scene Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Expensive Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Very fast-paced Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Average
💸Low taxes Poor
💼Job market Excellent
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Average
🧸Kids & family Good
🐕Dog-friendly Average
⛰️Outdoors Excellent
🎭Culture Excellent
🛡️Safety Moderate crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Below average
🌤️Mild summers Good
✈️Airport Excellent

Places like Newark

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

Nearby

See all the best places to live in New Jersey.

Is Newark right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.