Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield 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 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
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 Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($147,700 vs $314,100)
Rent averages $479/mo less ($913 vs $1,392)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (6.6%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
8% less violent crime than Paterson
Households earn $10,327 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$10,327
$62,419 vs $52,092/yr
Springfield
Violent Crime
8% lower
901.2 vs 978.6 per 100k
Springfield
Median Home Value
$166k less
$147,700 vs $314,100
Springfield
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 237⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 17 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 6 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $147,700 median home), income ($52,092 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Springfield, IL are about 818 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.