Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Las Vegas leads 18 of 23 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,356 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ 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.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
56% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (7.4%)
Households earn $14,264 more per year on average
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $51k less ($314,100 vs $365,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°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 Las Vegas by $14,264/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Las Vegas
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Las Vegas
Median Income
$14,264
$66,356 vs $52,092/yr
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
56% lower
429.8 vs 978.6 per 100k
Las Vegas
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
7.4% vs 10.5% unemployment
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Median Home Value
$51k less
$314,100 vs $365,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ 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 | 18.3:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Las Vegas is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 18 of 23 categories. Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $314,100 median home), income ($66,356 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Paterson, NJ are about 2,223 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.