Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 19 of 23 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864
Plano
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($314,100 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $307/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,699)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $53,587/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 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $53,587 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Home Value
$98k less
$314,100 vs $412,500
Plano
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$53,587
$105,679 vs $52,092/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
85% lower
151.6 vs 978.6 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
6.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 10.5% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 19 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 4 and Plano wins 19. 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 Paterson to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $412,500 median home), income ($52,092 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Plano, TX are about 1,355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.