What are the schools like in Paterson, NJ?

Paterson is served primarily by Paterson Public School District. The district operates 30 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 9 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.0:1.

What is the median household income in Paterson?

The median household income in Paterson, NJ is $52,092 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.5%.

What is the weather like in Paterson, NJ?

Paterson has an average high temperature of 39.3°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.2 inches.

Paterson, NJ Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Paterson, NJ affordable or expensive?

Paterson's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Paterson is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $314,100 and the median rent is $1,392 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Paterson, NJ?

Paterson has a violent crime rate of 978.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2351.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Paterson, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Paterson is a mid-sized city of 157,864 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $52,092 and a 10.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Paterson stands out for short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Paterson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Paterson city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 112.5

Paterson's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Paterson costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Paterson, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$314,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,392	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	26.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,092	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Paterson's violent crime rate is 978.6 per 100,000 residents — 158% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

978.6 /100k

Property Crime

2351.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Paterson is served primarily by Paterson Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Paterson, NJ	National Avg
School District	Paterson Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	30	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	9	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	76.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Paterson sees average highs of 39.3°F in January and 86.5°F in July, with 49.4 inches of annual precipitation and 28.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Paterson, NJ
Average High — January	39.3°F
Average High — July	86.5°F
Annual Precipitation	49.4"
Annual Snowfall	28.2"

Demographics

Metric	Paterson, NJ	National Avg
Population	157,864	—
Median Age	33.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	18.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	24.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	51.5%	18.9%
Asian	4.7%	6.3%
Under 18	27.5%	22.2%
65 and over	11.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Prospect Park, NJ 2 mi Haledon, NJ 2 mi Elmwood Park, NJ 2 mi Woodland Park, NJ 2 mi Fair Lawn, NJ 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Paterson

Paterson, NJ is covered by 9 ZIP codes:

07501 07503 07514 07522 07502 07504 07524 07513 07505

Paterson vs Other Cities

Paterson, NJ vs Prospect Park, NJ Paterson, NJ vs Haledon, NJ Paterson, NJ vs Elmwood Park, NJ Paterson, NJ vs Woodland Park, NJ Paterson, NJ vs Fair Lawn, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Paterson, NJ affordable or expensive?

Paterson's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Paterson roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $314,100 and median rent is $1,392/month.

What is the crime rate in Paterson, NJ?

Paterson's violent crime rate is 978.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2351.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Paterson?

Public schools in Paterson are operated by Paterson Public School District. The district has 30 elementary, 3 middle, and 9 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 12.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Paterson, NJ a good place to live?

Paterson, NJ has a population of 157,864, a median household income of $52,092, and an unemployment rate of 10.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Paterson?

Paterson averages 39.3°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.4 inches with about 28.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Paterson?

Paterson, NJ is covered by 9 ZIP codes: 07501, 07503, 07514, 07522, 07502, 07504, 07524, 07513, 07505.

What is the population of Paterson?

The population of Paterson, New Jersey is 157,864 with a median age of 33.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Paterson?

Key numbers for living in Paterson: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $314,100, median household income $52,092, crime index 199 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Paterson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.