5 Best Newark Neighborhoods For Black Singles, Young Professionals & Families – New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey, is close to plenty of attractions, such as New York City, Coney Island, and countless parks and museums.
If you’re considering a move to this northeastern city, you’ll want to explore some of their best neighborhoods.
Whether you’re a Black single, young professional, or have a black family, here are some of the best Newark neighborhoods.
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3 Best Newark Suburbs for Black Families
If you want to move to Newark with your kids, you’ll have to find out where the best Newark neighborhoods for Black families are.
Maplewood
One of the best Newark suburbs for Black families is Maplewood, New Jersey. Maplewood is a large Newark suburb with a moderate Black population of 38.6%.
You’ll find a fantastic educational system in Maplewood. Your high schooler can take up to 21 AP classes and join a world-class Robotics Club. Also, Maplewood has higher SAT scores than much of New Jersey.
Maplewood is situated between Manhattan and Newark, letting you easily commute to work in a big city. They even have trains and buses that take you to Newark in under an hour.
Also, families can explore the art and music festivals, tennis courts, playgrounds, farmer’s markets, picnic areas, ice-skating arenas, zoos, hiking trails, carriage roads, libraries, and dog parks. There are countless activities available in Maplewood.
However, Maplewood has a higher crime rate than most expensive suburbs, so you might need to take extra safety measures. Also, the houses can get pricey.
Westfield
Westfield is one of the larger Newark suburbs, but it doesn’t sacrifice quality for quantity.
It has low unemployment and poverty with a high median salary and many job opportunities. Westfield has significantly lower violent crime rates than the rest of Newark and New Jersey.
You could leave your door unlocked and not have to worry about your home being broken into! Plus, the houses are gorgeous.
Westfield has greater diversity than most wealthy Newark suburbs, making it a comfortable choice for Black families.
While it has a high cost of living, you get what you pay for. Westfield has an excellent public school system and plenty of family-friendly activities like dog parks, arcades, and hiking trails.
South Orange Village
South Orange Village is a moderately populated Newark suburb with a strong Black population.
Located near Maplewood, South Orange Village shares the school district and has a high-quality school system. In both suburbs, your child will go to Columbia High School. Students score high on SATs, and almost all go to college.
Parents can work in Newark or New York by taking a train or car to either city. The job opportunities within the city are substantial too, but most people commute to work.
Some of the fun family activities you can try include restaurants, performing arts centers, snowboarding, sledding, baseball, swimming, tennis courts, art galleries, and hiking trails.
South Orange is a safe suburb, but it is costly. While not as crime-free as Westfield, you can live comfortably in the town.
2 Best Newark Neighborhoods for Black Singles & Young Professionals
What about the top Newark suburbs for Black singles & young professionals?
North Ironbound
North Ironbound is an excellent place for Black singles and young professionals to live. It has job opportunities and plenty of activities for young people to enjoy.
The average income for North Ironbound is higher than the rest of Newark, and it has a lower unemployment rate. You can get a job in Newark or easily commute to New York for more opportunities.
The median rental price is higher than the national average, but it’s doable on the average salary.
As far as crime goes, North Ironbound is a bit safer than most of Newark, so you are less likely to experience violent or property crime.
You can find tons of restaurants, bars, and clubs fit for young professionals and singles looking to blow off some steam.
Some have deemed North Ironbound the best neighborhood in Newark for singles due to the youthful population, activities, and opportunities.
Central Business District
The Central Business District is one of the best Newark neighborhoods due to its decent cost of living, extensive amenities, and affordable housing.
The median income is higher than most of Newark, and women earn slightly more than men on average. North Ironbound saw women earning a few thousand less than their male counterparts.
It has a lower unemployment rate as well, so you have plenty of job opportunities. Apartments cost a good bit less than the average for the country, so you can comfortably afford your single or young professional lifestyle.
The Central Business District has performing arts centers, arenas, museums, libraries, bars, clubs, theaters, shops, and restaurants to explore. You’ll never run out of things to do.
However, this neighborhood does have more crime than the Newark average, making it one of the least safe places in the city. Nonetheless, it is still lower than the national average.
If you’re a young professional, you might prefer the Central Business District to North Ironbound. Regardless, both Newark neighborhoods will suit you during your hay day.
Is Newark Safe?
If you’re moving to a big city for the first time, you might wonder if it is safe.
Many of the largest cities are known for their crime, but does Newark follow suit?
According to the FBI, there are 2,260 reported incidents per 100,000 people each year of total crime. This value is lower than the national average of 2,489 reports.
Of these incidents, the FBI classified 619 as violent crime and 1,641 as property. f
You have a higher chance of getting murdered, robbed, and assaulted than the US average, with robbery accounting for most violent crimes.
Newark has 9% lower crime rates than the US average, making it safer than 16% of American cities. Also, crime rates are on a downward trend and experiencing significant annual drops.
The United States Peace Index gave New Jersey a 2.63, which falls in the middle of state rankings.
On average, New Jersey is one of the safest states, with only 206.9 violent crimes reported per 100,000 people.
Nevertheless, Newark’s crime rate is significantly higher than the state average.
What Is Newark’s Demographic?
Before moving to a new city, many people want to see if they’ll fit in based on their race.
Newark has a population of 311,549 individuals, making it the largest city in New Jersey.
According to the United States census, their racial demographics are as follows:
- Black or African American: 50.1%
- White: 28.6%
- Indigenous: 0.3%
- Asian: 1.9%
- Pacific Islander: 0%
- Two or More Races: 2.4%
- Hispanic or Latinx: 36.3%
- White, non-Hispanic: 11%
About 51.2% of residents are female, leaving 48.8% as male.
24.6% of the population is under 18, so families won’t have trouble finding new friends for their kids.
Young professionals should be happy to hear that 15.6% of the population is between 25-34 years old. Following that bracket is 15.5% being 35-44 years old, and 13.2% being 45-54.
The median age of Newark is 35, making it a middle ground for families, young professionals, and singles.
Singles will enjoy that 54% of the population has never married, and 25.8% are single by divorce, separation, or widowing. You can easily look for love in Newark.
Top Newark Neighborhoods For Black Singles, Conclusion
The growing city of Newark has something for all walks of life. Plus, you get to see the seasons change.
Living in Newark can give you lots of career and lifestyle opportunities whether you want to settle down or have some fun. The suburbs provide even more options.
Overall, Newark has plenty to offer for black people, and you’ll have a great time living there.
