Signals
Somerset
Newark
Opportunity
76 · Top 12%
vs41 · Bottom 20%
Climate
63 · Bottom 30%
vs71 · Top 48%
Physical resilience
55 · Bottom 47%
vs50 · Bottom 43%
Housing affordability
86 · Top 41%
vs34 · Bottom 2%
Access
92 · Bottom 49%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
82 · Top 5%
vs43 · Bottom 22%
Measured values
| Metric | Somerset | Newark | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,720 | 310,178 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $121,028 | $52,060 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $60,499 | $27,193 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,590/sq mi | 12,847/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $438,800 | $373,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,121 | $1,392 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.9% | 24.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 6.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.6% | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.0% | 19.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 4.5% | 23.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 86°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.5" | 46.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 22 mi | 2 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 37.1 min | 35.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.3 | 34.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Somerset
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
Newark
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: Somerset, NJ · Newark, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology