Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Portsmouth 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 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,100
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Portsmouth
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($213,300 vs $314,100)
23% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (6.6%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Rent averages $167/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,392)
More college-educated — 21.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Income
$5,062
$57,154 vs $52,092/yr
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
23% lower
752.4 vs 978.6 per 100k
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$101k less
$213,300 vs $314,100
Portsmouth
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 19 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 4 and Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $213,300 median home), income ($52,092 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Portsmouth, VA are about 304 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.