Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Yonkers leads 14 of 22 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864
Yonkers
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($314,100 vs $456,500)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Rent averages $267/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,659)
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Yonkers by $26,116/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 6.6%)
Yonkers, NY
Pros
68% less violent crime than Paterson
Households earn $26,116 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,500
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 34.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Home Value
$142k less
$314,100 vs $456,500
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Yonkers
Median Income
$26,116
$78,208 vs $52,092/yr
Yonkers
Violent Crime
68% lower
311.8 vs 978.6 per 100k
Yonkers
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $78,208 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 39.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 32.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yonkers leads 14 of 22 categories. Paterson wins 8 and Yonkers wins 14. 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $456,500 median home), income ($52,092 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and Yonkers, NY are about 16 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.