Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Alexandria leads 16 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
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.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $61,087 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.3 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $342k less ($314,100 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $591/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $61,087/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.5% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$61,087
$113,179 vs $52,092/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
78% lower
219.1 vs 978.6 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
7.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 10.5% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Median Home Value
$342k less
$314,100 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 16 of 23 categories. Alexandria 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 Alexandria to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $314,100 median home), income ($113,179 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Paterson, NJ are about 212 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.