Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 18 of 23 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Households earn $4,671 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°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 22% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($174,100 vs $314,100)
56% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Rent averages $354/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,392)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Paterson by $4,671/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Income
$4,671
$52,092 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
56% lower
425.9 vs 978.6 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$140k less
$174,100 vs $314,100
Waco
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 10.5% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 18 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 5 and Waco wins 18. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $174,100 median home), income ($52,092 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Waco, TX are about 1,431 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.