Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Des Moines leads 17 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164 ✓ 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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $143k less ($170,700 vs $314,100)
Rent averages $397/mo less ($995 vs $1,392)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (5.9%)
28% less violent crime than Paterson
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Households earn $10,286 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,100
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Des Moines
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Income
$10,286
$62,378 vs $52,092/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
28% lower
703.0 vs 978.6 per 100k
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$143k less
$170,700 vs $314,100
Des Moines
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $314,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 17 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 17 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 Des Moines to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $314,100 median home), income ($62,378 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Paterson, NJ are about 1,009 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.