Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Arvada leads 15 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Paterson
New Jersey
8
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $53,922 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.7 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $239k less ($314,100 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $314/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,706)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $53,922/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 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Arvada
Median Income
$53,922
$106,014 vs $52,092/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
71% lower
285.6 vs 978.6 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
6.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 10.5% unemployment
Paterson
Median Home Value
$239k less
$314,100 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Arvada is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 15 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 15 and Paterson wins 8. 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 Arvada to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $314,100 median home), income ($106,014 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Paterson, NJ are about 1,624 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.