Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 15 of 23 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $303k less ($314,100 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $770/mo less ($1,392 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $59,625/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 5.4%)
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $59,625 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Home Value
$303k less
$314,100 vs $617,300
Tracy
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$59,625
$111,717 vs $52,092/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
69% lower
301.4 vs 978.6 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.5% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tracy leads 15 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 8 and Tracy wins 15. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $617,300 median home), income ($52,092 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Tracy, CA are about 2,506 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.