Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Fresno leads 19 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Paterson
New Jersey
4
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Paterson
Households earn $10,909 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (9.0%)
Rent averages $165/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,392)
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fresno by $10,909/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Income
$10,909
$63,001 vs $52,092/yr
Fresno
Violent Crime
25% lower
735.5 vs 978.6 per 100k
Fresno
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
9.0% vs 10.5% unemployment
Fresno
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ 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 | 19.3:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 27.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fresno leads 19 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 19 and Paterson wins 4. 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 Fresno to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $314,100 median home), income ($63,001 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Paterson, NJ are about 2,444 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.