Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Paterson
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Households earn $9,240 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (10.5%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,100
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Reading
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($96,900 vs $314,100)
66% less violent crime than Paterson
Rent averages $450/mo less ($942 vs $1,392)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Paterson by $9,240/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 10.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Income
$9,240
$52,092 vs $42,852/yr
Paterson
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
10.5% vs 11.3% unemployment
Reading
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
66% lower
337.2 vs 978.6 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$217k less
$96,900 vs $314,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 4.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 49.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 27.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 39.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Paterson wins 11 and Reading wins 11. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $96,900 median home), income ($52,092 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Reading, PA are about 101 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.