Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Paterson leads 15 of 23 categories
Compton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Paterson
New Jersey
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,636 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (7.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($314,100 vs $489,400)
23% less violent crime than Compton
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Cons
Median income trails Compton by $17,636/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 7.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Income
$17,636
$69,728 vs $52,092/yr
Compton
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
7.9% vs 10.5% unemployment
Paterson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Paterson
Violent Crime
23% lower
978.6 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Paterson
Median Home Value
$175k less
$314,100 vs $489,400
Paterson
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 3.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 258⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 12.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 27.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Paterson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Paterson leads 15 of 23 categories. Compton wins 8 and Paterson wins 15. 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 Compton to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $314,100 median home), income ($69,728 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Paterson, NJ are about 2,440 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.