Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 20 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
114,237
Paterson
New Jersey
3
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.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
77% less violent crime than Paterson
Households earn $30,455 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Homes cost $103k less ($210,800 vs $314,100)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Broken Arrow by $30,455/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $314,100
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Broken Arrow
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Median Income
$30,455
$82,547 vs $52,092/yr
Broken Arrow
Violent Crime
77% lower
223.1 vs 978.6 per 100k
Broken Arrow
Median Home Value
$103k less
$210,800 vs $314,100
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 10.5% unemployment
Broken Arrow
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 ✓ Lower | $314,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 20 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow wins 20 and Paterson wins 3. 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 Broken Arrow to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $314,100 median home), income ($82,547 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Paterson, NJ are about 1,213 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.