Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Syracuse leads 14 of 23 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
146,134
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Households earn $8,508 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
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 17% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($117,900 vs $314,100)
Rent averages $460/mo less ($932 vs $1,392)
22% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (8.6%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
More college-educated — 29.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Paterson by $8,508/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 128" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Income
$8,508
$52,092 vs $43,584/yr
Paterson
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Violent Crime
22% lower
765.3 vs 978.6 per 100k
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$196k less
$117,900 vs $314,100
Syracuse
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
8.6% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 29.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 84.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 40.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Syracuse leads 14 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 9 and Syracuse 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $117,900 median home), income ($52,092 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Syracuse, NY are about 179 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.