When asked if Newark (Newark, DE) is a good city to live in, I find it hard to answer with a simple yes or no.

After visiting various cities in the U.S., the important question is not whether it's a "good city" but whether it's a "city that suits me."

Newark is no different. For some, it's a very comfortable and stable neighborhood, while others might find it boring after a year and want to leave.

The people who fit best are those connected to the University of Delaware. If you're a student, graduate student, professor, or researcher, it's self-explanatory. The city revolves around the university, making it convenient to live near the campus.

It's also suitable for those working at local healthcare institutions like ChristianaCare. With work nearby, you can manage your basic needs without having to travel to a big city. While it may seem trivial to reduce a 10 or 20-minute commute in the U.S., experiencing it daily can significantly improve your quality of life.

People who work in the Philadelphia metropolitan area and want to live in a quieter place might also consider it. Depending on traffic, you can expect about a 40-50 minute drive to Philadelphia, and there's the added benefit of no state sales tax in Delaware.

Especially for families with children, the atmosphere in Newark can be appealing. It's less chaotic than major cities like New York or Philadelphia, yet it's a college town with young people and students from various countries continuously coming in. It strikes a balance between not being too rural and not being overwhelmingly busy.

On the flip side, there are definitely people for whom it's not a good fit.

If you feel more comfortable living in an area with a large Korean community, you might find it a bit lacking. If you want to visit a Korean market every weekend, eat seolleongtang, go to a Korean hair salon, and have Korean-speaking doctors or accountants nearby, places like New Jersey, Northern Virginia, or LA would be much more convenient than Newark.

While you can access Korean businesses in the Philadelphia area if needed, it's not at the level where everything is easily resolved right outside your door. It's hard to expect a lifestyle where you can just slip on your slippers and run to the Korean market in five minutes if you run out of kimchi.

It's also not recommended for those who want to live without a car. While the area around the university campus and Main Street is walkable, when you expand your living area, having a car becomes more convenient. Running errands, going to the hospital, shopping, and moving around with kids can become frustrating without a vehicle.

And for those who enjoy a vibrant city life, it might feel dull. If you expect to explore new restaurants every Friday night, attend shows, and party until dawn in a big city, you might find yourself wondering, "What should I do after dinner here?"

On the other hand, if you prefer a quiet lifestyle, the story changes.

You can live comfortably at home, take a trip to Philadelphia on the weekends, head down to the Delaware beaches in the summer, do your shopping without sales tax, and access nearby large medical facilities when needed. For those wanting this kind of lifestyle, it can be a very practical city.

The relatively affordable housing compared to other East Coast metropolitan areas is also a plus, but I wouldn't recommend moving here just for that reason. If you come here because housing is cheaper but find the Korean community inconvenient, your job far away, and end up driving every day, the savings of several thousand dollars lose their value.

Ultimately, Newark is a good city for those with a purpose.

If you came for UD, have a job nearby, need access to the Philadelphia area, or want to live quietly with your kids.

If any of these reasons are clear, Newark is better than you might think.

Conversely, if you're just thinking, "I heard the housing is a bit cheaper, should I check it out?" it's best to spend a few days living here to see for yourself.

Choosing where to live in the U.S. isn't just about looking at housing price rankings.

In the end, a good city isn't one that's famous, but one that fits your lifestyle.