Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 16 of 22 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $26,934 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (5.6%)
27% less violent crime than Paterson
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $69k less ($314,100 vs $383,000)
Cons
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $26,934/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Colorado Springs
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$26,934
$79,026 vs $52,092/yr
Colorado Springs
Violent Crime
27% lower
715.6 vs 978.6 per 100k
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.5% unemployment
Paterson
Median Home Value
$69k less
$314,100 vs $383,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 16 of 22 categories. Colorado Springs wins 16 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 Colorado Springs to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $314,100 median home), income ($79,026 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Paterson, NJ are about 1,620 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.