Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Boca Raton leads 17 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Paterson
New Jersey
6
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $43,478 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (5.9%)
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $283k less ($314,100 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $778/mo less ($1,392 vs $2,170)
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $43,478/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 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Boca Raton
Median Income
$43,478
$95,570 vs $52,092/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
83% lower
171.0 vs 978.6 per 100k
Boca Raton
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 10.5% unemployment
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Median Home Value
$283k less
$314,100 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 49.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Boca Raton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 17 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 17 and Paterson wins 6. 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 Boca Raton to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $314,100 median home), income ($95,570 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Paterson, NJ are about 1,061 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.