Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Albany leads 16 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Paterson
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($213,400 vs $314,100)
17% less violent crime than Paterson
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (8.0%)
Rent averages $262/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,392)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,100
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Income
$2,644
$54,736 vs $52,092/yr
Albany
Violent Crime
17% lower
816.9 vs 978.6 per 100k
Albany
Median Home Value
$101k less
$213,400 vs $314,100
Albany
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
8.0% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $314,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Albany is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albany leads 16 of 23 categories. Albany wins 16 and Paterson wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $314,100 median home), income ($54,736 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Paterson, NJ are about 122 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.