Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Springfield leads 18 of 23 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
157,864
Springfield
Missouri
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
17% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $8,642 more per year on average
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 23% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($146,400 vs $314,100)
Rent averages $514/mo less ($878 vs $1,392)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (4.8%)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Paterson by $8,642/yr
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Income
$8,642
$52,092 vs $43,450/yr
Paterson
Violent Crime
17% lower
978.6 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$168k less
$146,400 vs $314,100
Springfield
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 18 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 5 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $146,400 median home), income ($52,092 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Springfield, MO are about 1,056 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.