Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Sunrise, FL
🏆 Sunrise leads 14 of 20 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
Sunrise
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
96,510
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $454/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,846)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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 Sunrise by $13,909/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.5% vs 6.5%)
Sunrise, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (6.5%)
Households earn $13,909 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $18k less ($296,100 vs $314,100)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,846/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sunrise
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Sunrise
Median Income
$13,909
$66,001 vs $52,092/yr
Sunrise
Median Home Value
$18k less
$296,100 vs $314,100
Sunrise
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
6.5% vs 10.5% unemployment
Sunrise
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Sunrise, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High | $296,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,846⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $66,001 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 10.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 76.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" ✓ Drier | 67.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 96,510 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 19.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Sunrise's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Sunrise is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Sunrise leads 14 of 20 categories. Paterson wins 6 and Sunrise wins 14. 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 Sunrise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $296,100 median home), income ($52,092 vs $66,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Sunrise, FL are about 1,077 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.