Head-to-Head · City Comparison
North Las Vegas, NV
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 North Las Vegas leads 16 of 22 categories
North Las Vegas
Nevada
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,774 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
102⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
264,022 ✓ 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.
North Las Vegas, NV
Pros
60% less violent crime than Paterson
Households earn $19,682 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (8.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 39°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
More college-educated — 17.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Higher rents — median is $1,479/mo
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 106°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $26k less ($314,100 vs $340,200)
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,479)
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails North Las Vegas by $19,682/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)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than North Las Vegas
Key Differences at a Glance
North Las Vegas
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
North Las Vegas
Median Income
$19,682
$71,774 vs $52,092/yr
North Las Vegas
Violent Crime
60% lower
388.9 vs 978.6 per 100k
North Las Vegas
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
8.4% vs 10.5% unemployment
North Las Vegas
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.7°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Median Home Value
$26k less
$314,100 vs $340,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | North Las Vegas, NV | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,479⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,774 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.7°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 4.3" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,022 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.9 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
North Las Vegas is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, North Las Vegas leads 16 of 22 categories. North Las Vegas wins 16 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 North Las Vegas to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $314,100 median home), income ($71,774 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
North Las Vegas, NV and Paterson, NJ are about 2,213 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.