Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Denver leads 14 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Paterson
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
157,864
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $33,761 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($314,100 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $273/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,665)
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $33,761/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 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Income
$33,761
$85,853 vs $52,092/yr
Denver
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 10.5% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Violent Crime
1% lower
978.6 vs 993.0 per 100k
Paterson
Median Home Value
$226k less
$314,100 vs $540,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 258⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Denver is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 14 of 23 categories. Denver wins 14 and Paterson wins 9. 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 Denver to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $314,100 median home), income ($85,853 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Paterson, NJ are about 1,611 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.