Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell 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 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $165k less ($314,100 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $227/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $70,832/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)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Roswell
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $70,832 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Home Value
$165k less
$314,100 vs $479,400
Roswell
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Roswell
Median Income
$70,832
$122,924 vs $52,092/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
84% lower
160.1 vs 978.6 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 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 ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,619⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Roswell is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 16 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 7 and Roswell 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $479,400 median home), income ($52,092 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Roswell, GA are about 732 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.