Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Trenton leads 13 of 22 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
5% less violent crime than Trenton
Households earn $7,648 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,100
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($111,200 vs $314,100)
Rent averages $215/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,392)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
More college-educated — 15.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Paterson by $7,648/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Income
$7,648
$52,092 vs $44,444/yr
Paterson
Violent Crime
5% lower
978.6 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Trenton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$203k less
$111,200 vs $314,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 10.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 5.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 15.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 38.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 25.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Trenton leads 13 of 22 categories. Paterson wins 9 and Trenton wins 13. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $111,200 median home), income ($52,092 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Trenton, NJ are about 57 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.