Is Portland cheaper than Newark?

Yes. Typical rent in Portland is $1,922 a month versus $2,205 in Newark — 13% cheaper. Median household income is $85,876 in Portland compared with $46,460 in Newark, so Portland has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Portland or Newark?

Newark is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 111 in Portland — 39% 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, Portland or Newark?

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

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City comparison

Portland, OR vs Newark, NJ

Portland, OR versus Newark, NJ 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 $1,922 a month in Portland and $2,205 in Newark, and median household income lands at $85,876 versus $46,460. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Portland takes affordability, job market, and weather, while Newark takes safety. The widest gap is median income, where Portland leads by 85% — 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 Portland can feel further apart than Portland and Newark do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Portland and Newark reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Portland report Full Newark report

Portland, OR

Rent: $1,922/mo
Median income: $85,876
Crime index: 111
Schools: A-
Weather: 69°F

Newark, NJ

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

Rent

13% cheaper

Portland rent is 13% cheaper than Newark

Portland

Winner

$1,922/mo

Newark

$2,205/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,922 a month in Portland versus $2,205 in Newark, so Portland is 13% 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 $3,396 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Portland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Newark.

Median income

85% higher

Portland's median income is 85% higher than Newark

Portland

Winner

$85,876

Newark

$46,460

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,876 in Portland versus $46,460 in Newark, so typical pay runs 85% higher in Portland — about $39,416 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, Portland 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

39% lower crime

Newark's crime index is 39% lower than Portland

Portland

111 (100 = avg)

Newark

Winner

68 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Newark's crime index is 68 versus 111 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Portland and Newark are about even on school scores.

Portland

A- · 84/100

Newark

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Portland, A- in Newark). 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

11% more comfortable

Portland weather is 11% more comfortable than Newark

Portland

Winner

69°F typical

Newark

75°F typical

What this means for your life

Portland scores 11% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 69°F in Portland and 75°F in Newark. Portland reads as mild, livable temperatures; Newark reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Newark's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Portland is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Portland

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Portland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,922 a month. Choose Portland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 85% higher ($85,876), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 69°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Portland report →

Fit check

Who should choose Newark

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Newark is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Portland (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 →

Bottom line

Portland vs Newark, called

If the job market is your priority, Portland is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Newark pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Portland vs Newark FAQ

Is Portland cheaper than Newark?: Yes. Typical rent in Portland is $1,922 a month versus $2,205 in Newark — 13% cheaper. Median household income is $85,876 in Portland compared with $46,460 in Newark, so Portland has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Portland or Newark?: Newark is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 68 versus 111 in Portland — 39% 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, Portland or Newark?: School composites are close: A- in Portland and A- in Newark. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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