Is Newark cheaper than St Louis?

No. St Louis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,218 a month versus $2,205 in Newark — 45% lower. Median household income is $46,460 in Newark compared with $52,941 in St Louis, so St Louis has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Newark or St Louis?

Newark is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 116 in St Louis — 41% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Newark or St Louis?

School composites are close: A- in Newark and A- in St Louis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Newark, NJ vs St Louis, MO

Newark, NJ versus St Louis, MO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $2,205 a month in Newark and $1,218 in St Louis, and median household income lands at $46,460 versus $52,941. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Newark takes safety and weather, while St Louis takes affordability and job market. The widest gap is rent, where St Louis leads by 45% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Newark can feel further apart than Newark and St Louis do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Newark and St Louis reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Newark report Full St Louis report

Newark, NJ

Rent: $2,205/mo
Median income: $46,460
Crime index: 68
Schools: A-
Weather: 75°F

St Louis, MO

Rent: $1,218/mo
Median income: $52,941
Crime index: 116
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Rent

45% cheaper

St Louis rent is 45% cheaper than Newark

Newark

$2,205/mo

St Louis

Winner

$1,218/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,218 a month in St Louis versus $2,205 in Newark, so St Louis is 45% cheaper. That's roughly $987/month back in your pocket — $11,844/year. Over five years that's $59,220 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Newark, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

14% higher

St Louis's median income is 14% higher than Newark

Newark

$46,460

St Louis

Winner

$52,941

What this means for your life

Median household income is $52,941 in St Louis versus $46,460 in Newark, so typical pay runs 14% higher in St Louis — about $6,481 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, St Louis 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

41% lower crime

Newark's crime index is 41% lower than St Louis

Newark

Winner

68 (100 = avg)

St Louis

116 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Newark's crime index is 68 versus 116 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% lower in Newark. 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, Newark is the easier city. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Newark and St Louis are about even on school scores.

Newark

A- · 84/100

St Louis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Newark, A- in St Louis). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

10% more comfortable

Newark weather is 10% more comfortable than St Louis

Newark

Winner

75°F typical

St Louis

78°F typical

What this means for your life

Newark scores 10% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 75°F in Newark and 78°F in St Louis. Newark reads as warm weather most of the year; St Louis reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want St Louis's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Newark is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Newark

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Pick Newark if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat St Louis on this page's weather index by 10%. St Louis may pay more or cost less, but Newark is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Newark is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 41% lower than St Louis (68 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.

Open the Newark report →

Fit check

Who should choose St Louis

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 45% cheaper here at about $1,218 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

St Louis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($52,941). Start with St Louis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the St Louis report →

Bottom line

Newark vs St Louis, called

If cost of living is your priority, St Louis is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Newark pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, St Louis offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Newark vs St Louis FAQ

Is Newark cheaper than St Louis?: No. St Louis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,218 a month versus $2,205 in Newark — 45% lower. Median household income is $46,460 in Newark compared with $52,941 in St Louis, so St Louis has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Newark or St Louis?: Newark is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 116 in St Louis — 41% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Newark or St Louis?: School composites are close: A- in Newark and A- in St Louis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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