Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Henderson, NV
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Henderson leads 18 of 23 categories
Henderson
Nevada
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,311 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
Paterson
New Jersey
5
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.
Henderson, NV
Pros
Households earn $33,219 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (7.0%)
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,900
Higher rents — median is $1,641/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($314,100 vs $427,900)
Rent averages $249/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,641)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Henderson by $33,219/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 7.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Henderson
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Henderson
Median Income
$33,219
$85,311 vs $52,092/yr
Henderson
Violent Crime
72% lower
272.4 vs 978.6 per 100k
Henderson
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
7.0% vs 10.5% unemployment
Henderson
Summer Heat
18.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Median Home Value
$114k less
$314,100 vs $427,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Henderson, NV | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,900⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,641⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,311 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.5" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 318,063 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.2% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.0% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Henderson's cost of living index is 103.9 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Henderson is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Henderson leads 18 of 23 categories. Henderson wins 18 and Paterson wins 5. 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 Henderson to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,900 vs $314,100 median home), income ($85,311 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Henderson, NV and Paterson, NJ are about 2,217 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.