Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Providence leads 16 of 23 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864
Providence
Rhode Island
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
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
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Providence by $9,273/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Providence, RI
Pros
72% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (7.2%)
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,273 more per year on average
Rent averages $178/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,392)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Median Income
$9,273
$61,365 vs $52,092/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
72% lower
276.7 vs 978.6 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$21k less
$293,000 vs $314,100
Providence
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
7.2% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 82.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 47.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 16 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 7 and Providence wins 16. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $293,000 median home), income ($52,092 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Providence, RI are about 156 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.