Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Jersey City leads 15 of 21 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Paterson
New Jersey
6
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.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $39,059 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($314,100 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $407/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $39,059/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 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$39,059
$91,151 vs $52,092/yr
Jersey City
Violent Crime
43% lower
561.6 vs 978.6 per 100k
Jersey City
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 10.5% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Paterson
Median Home Value
$186k less
$314,100 vs $500,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 49.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City'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 21 decided categories above, Jersey City leads 15 of 21 categories. Jersey City wins 15 and Paterson wins 6. 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 Jersey City to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $314,100 median home), income ($91,151 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Paterson, NJ are about 15 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.