Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock 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
Round Rock
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $194/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,586)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Homes cost $23k less ($314,100 vs $337,500)
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $39,796/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Round Rock
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Round Rock, TX
Pros
Households earn $39,796 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.7 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 42.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Home Value
$23k less
$314,100 vs $337,500
Round Rock
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Round Rock
Median Income
$39,796
$91,888 vs $52,092/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
87% lower
130.7 vs 978.6 per 100k
Round Rock
Unemployment
6.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 10.5% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 16 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 7 and Round Rock 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $337,500 median home), income ($52,092 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Round Rock, TX are about 1,494 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.