Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 19 of 23 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
St. George
Utah
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($314,100 vs $415,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 102°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. George by $17,241/yr
Cost of living runs 16% higher than St. George
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
St. George, UT
Pros
79% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $17,241 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
More college-educated — 32.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Home Value
$101k less
$314,100 vs $415,200
St. George
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Median Income
$17,241
$69,333 vs $52,092/yr
St. George
Violent Crime
79% lower
210.0 vs 978.6 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
7.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 10.5% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $69,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 32.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 19 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 4 and St. George wins 19. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $415,200 median home), income ($52,092 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and St. George, UT are about 2,115 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.