Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clovis, CA
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Clovis leads 18 of 23 categories
Clovis
California
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607
Paterson
New Jersey
5
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.
Clovis, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,462 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (6.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $420,700
Higher rents — median is $1,482/mo
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($314,100 vs $420,700)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 98°F
Rent averages $90/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,482)
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Clovis by $46,462/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 6.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clovis
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Clovis
Median Income
$46,462
$98,554 vs $52,092/yr
Clovis
Violent Crime
75% lower
244.6 vs 978.6 per 100k
Clovis
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 10.5% unemployment
Clovis
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Median Home Value
$107k less
$314,100 vs $420,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clovis, CA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $420,700⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,482⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,554 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clovis Unified | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.6" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,607 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 27.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clovis's cost of living index is 107.8 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Clovis is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clovis leads 18 of 23 categories. Clovis wins 18 and Paterson wins 5. 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 Clovis to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($420,700 vs $314,100 median home), income ($98,554 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clovis, CA and Paterson, NJ are about 2,437 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.