Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Arlington leads 18 of 22 categories
Arlington
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Paterson
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
51% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $19,644 more per year on average
Homes cost $63k less ($251,300 vs $314,100)
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $19,644/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $314,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$19,644
$71,736 vs $52,092/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
51% lower
482.9 vs 978.6 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$63k less
$251,300 vs $314,100
Arlington
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.5% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $314,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arlington leads 18 of 22 categories. Arlington wins 18 and Paterson wins 4. 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 Arlington to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $314,100 median home), income ($71,736 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Paterson, NJ are about 1,386 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.