Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 El Paso leads 20 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Paterson
New Jersey
3
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($159,300 vs $314,100)
72% less violent crime than Paterson
Rent averages $416/mo less ($976 vs $1,392)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (6.8%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
More college-educated — 27.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°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 22% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Income
$3,618
$55,710 vs $52,092/yr
El Paso
Violent Crime
72% lower
278.4 vs 978.6 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$155k less
$159,300 vs $314,100
El Paso
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
6.8% vs 10.5% unemployment
El Paso
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $314,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 20 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 20 and Paterson wins 3. 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 El Paso to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $314,100 median home), income ($55,710 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Paterson, NJ are about 1,888 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.