Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Buckeye leads 17 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Households earn $42,096 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 39°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $205/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,597)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 107°F
Homes cost $28k less ($314,100 vs $341,700)
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $42,096/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Buckeye
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Income
$42,096
$94,188 vs $52,092/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
83% lower
166.8 vs 978.6 per 100k
Buckeye
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 10.5% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
20.0°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Median Home Value
$28k less
$314,100 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 27.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 17 of 23 categories. Buckeye 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 Buckeye to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $314,100 median home), income ($94,188 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Paterson, NJ are about 2,162 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.