Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Concord leads 15 of 23 categories
Concord
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,007
Paterson
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,697 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $393k less ($314,100 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $745/mo less ($1,392 vs $2,137)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $55,697/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 4.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$55,697
$107,789 vs $52,092/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
50% lower
484.6 vs 978.6 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 10.5% unemployment
Paterson
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Paterson
Median Home Value
$393k less
$314,100 vs $706,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Paterson is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 15 of 23 categories. Concord wins 15 and Paterson wins 8. 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 Concord to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $314,100 median home), income ($107,789 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Paterson, NJ are about 2,529 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.