In my experience, Newark is downright civilized compared to Camden.
I was visiting my sister once in the Philly suburbs. My niece was in town and went to NYU. She asked if we could drop her off at the bus or train (I forget what...) station in Trenton so she could get back into the city for school.
I didn't feel very good about dropping her off there but she jumped out of the car like it was the most normal thing in the world. I was pretty sure I was in the criminal end of the Star wars bar.