Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 14 of 23 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($314,100 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $366/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $42,972/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.5% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $42,972 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Home Value
$131k less
$314,100 vs $445,200
Thornton
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$42,972
$95,064 vs $52,092/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
72% lower
273.6 vs 978.6 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 10.5% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 14 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 9 and Thornton 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $445,200 median home), income ($52,092 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Thornton, CO are about 1,612 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.