Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Denton leads 19 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Paterson
New Jersey
4
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
79% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $19,829 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Denton by $19,829/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 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Median Income
$19,829
$71,921 vs $52,092/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
79% lower
204.2 vs 978.6 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$18k less
$296,100 vs $314,100
Denton
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 10.5% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $314,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Denton is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 19 of 23 categories. Denton wins 19 and Paterson wins 4. 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 Denton to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $314,100 median home), income ($71,921 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Paterson, NJ are about 1,369 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.