Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Downey leads 14 of 23 categories
Downey
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Paterson
New Jersey
9
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,144 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $365k less ($314,100 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $422/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,814)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $32,144/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 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$32,144
$84,236 vs $52,092/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
53% lower
460.5 vs 978.6 per 100k
Downey
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.5% unemployment
Paterson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Paterson
Median Home Value
$365k less
$314,100 vs $679,000
Paterson
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, 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 | $679,000⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey'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, Downey leads 14 of 23 categories. Downey 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 Downey to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $314,100 median home), income ($84,236 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Paterson, NJ are about 2,434 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.