Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
San Angelo, TX
🏆 San Angelo leads 18 of 22 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
San Angelo
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
57 ✓ Safer
Population
99,422
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
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 22% higher than San Angelo
San Angelo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($171,700 vs $314,100)
78% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.3 pts lower (3.2%)
Rent averages $355/mo less ($1,037 vs $1,392)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Households earn $12,948 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2486.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Angelo
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
San Angelo
Median Income
$12,948
$65,040 vs $52,092/yr
San Angelo
Violent Crime
78% lower
218.2 vs 978.6 per 100k
San Angelo
Median Home Value
$142k less
$171,700 vs $314,100
San Angelo
Unemployment
7.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 10.5% unemployment
San Angelo
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | San Angelo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High | $171,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,037 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $65,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 7.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 86.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | SAN ANGELO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 61.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 22.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 99,422 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs San Angelo's 90.9 (US average = 100).
San Angelo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Angelo leads 18 of 22 categories. Paterson wins 4 and San Angelo wins 18. 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 San Angelo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $171,700 median home), income ($52,092 vs $65,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and San Angelo, TX are about 1,597 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.