Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Yakima leads 20 of 23 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $314,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Yakima, WA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Paterson
Rent averages $378/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,392)
Homes cost $71k less ($243,300 vs $314,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (8.1%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Yakima
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Income
$3,642
$55,734 vs $52,092/yr
Yakima
Violent Crime
44% lower
544.3 vs 978.6 per 100k
Yakima
Median Home Value
$71k less
$243,300 vs $314,100
Yakima
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
8.1% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $55,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 5.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 19.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 77.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 39.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 20.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yakima leads 20 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 3 and Yakima wins 20. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $243,300 median home), income ($52,092 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Yakima, WA are about 2,314 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.