Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Elizabeth leads 13 of 22 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Paterson
New Jersey
9
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
58% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $7,847 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $44k less ($314,100 vs $358,400)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Elizabeth by $7,847/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.5% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Income
$7,847
$59,939 vs $52,092/yr
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
58% lower
408.7 vs 978.6 per 100k
Elizabeth
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 10.5% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Paterson
Median Home Value
$44k less
$314,100 vs $358,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elizabeth leads 13 of 22 categories. Elizabeth wins 13 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 Elizabeth to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $314,100 median home), income ($59,939 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Paterson, NJ are about 17 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.