Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 17 of 23 categories
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
Raleigh
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $33k less ($314,100 vs $347,000)
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $26,539/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Raleigh
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Households earn $26,539 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Paterson
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Home Value
$33k less
$314,100 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$26,539
$78,631 vs $52,092/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
50% lower
488.8 vs 978.6 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 10.5% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 17 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 6 and Raleigh wins 17. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $347,000 median home), income ($52,092 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Raleigh, NC are about 427 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.