Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 21 of 23 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864
Wichita
Kansas
21
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°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 23% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($166,400 vs $314,100)
Rent averages $477/mo less ($915 vs $1,392)
45% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (5.7%)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$8,620
$60,712 vs $52,092/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
45% lower
538.6 vs 978.6 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$148k less
$166,400 vs $314,100
Wichita
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.5% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 6.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 21 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 2 and Wichita wins 21. 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 Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $166,400 median home), income ($52,092 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Wichita, KS are about 1,256 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.