Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Ontario leads 14 of 23 categories
Ontario
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Paterson
New Jersey
9
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.
Ontario, CA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Paterson
Households earn $25,978 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 19.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($314,100 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $434/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $25,978/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
Ontario
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Median Income
$25,978
$78,070 vs $52,092/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
72% lower
272.2 vs 978.6 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 10.5% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Median Home Value
$199k less
$314,100 vs $513,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 14 of 23 categories. Ontario wins 14 and Paterson wins 9. 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 Ontario to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $314,100 median home), income ($78,070 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Paterson, NJ are about 2,404 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.