Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Washington leads 17 of 23 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864
Washington
District of Columbia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $391k less ($314,100 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $425/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,817)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $49,630/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 7.1%)
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $49,630 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (7.1%)
5% less violent crime than Paterson
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Home Value
$391k less
$314,100 vs $705,000
Washington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Washington
Median Income
$49,630
$101,722 vs $52,092/yr
Washington
Violent Crime
5% lower
925.9 vs 978.6 per 100k
Washington
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
7.1% vs 10.5% unemployment
Washington
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 244⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 44.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 41.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Washington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Washington leads 17 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 6 and Washington wins 17. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $705,000 median home), income ($52,092 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Washington, DC are about 205 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.