Paterson, NJ Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Paterson, NJ Summary

Cost of living in Paterson research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Paterson is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in New Jersey, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Paterson is 116, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Paterson is 1.2x higher than the national average.

  • Paterson ranks as the #60 cheapest in New Jersey out of 251.

  • Paterson ranks as the #4,558 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Paterson is $269,200.

  • The median income in Paterson is $48,540.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
116
Paterson's Overall Cost Of Living
1.2x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Paterson, NJ?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Paterson has an overall cost of living index of 116, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to New Jersey, Paterson has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Jersey's index of 111.

The standard of living in Paterson ranks as #60 most affordable out of the 251 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Paterson ranks as the #191 most expensive place in the Garden State.

For more reading on life in Paterson, check out:

60 out of 251
In New Jersey
4,558 out of 6,412
In America

Paterson Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Paterson. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Paterson is 113.

  • The Groceries index in Paterson is 108.

  • The Health index in Paterson is 99.

  • The Housing index in Paterson is 125.

  • The Transportation index in Paterson is 109.

  • The Utilities index in Paterson is 104.

Living Expense Paterson New Jersey National Average
Overall 116 111 100
Services 113 104 100
Groceries 108 104 100
Health 99 95 100
Housing 125 130 100
Transportation 109 106 100
Utilities 104 108 100
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Paterson Cost of Living Vs. NJ

Paterson, NJ Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Jersey, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Paterson is $269,200.

  • The Median Rent in Paterson is $1,278.

  • The Median Income in Paterson is $48,540.

  • The Home Value To Income in Paterson is 5.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Paterson is 0.32x.

Statistic Paterson New Jersey United States
Median Home Value $269,200 $355,700 $244,900
Median Rent $1,278 $1,436 $1,163
Median Income $48,540 $89,703 $69,021
Home Value To Income 5.5x 4.0x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.32x 0.19x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Paterson, NJ
$269,200
Median Home Value
$1,278
Median Rent
$48,540
Median Income

Paterson, NJ Costs By Category

Detailed Paterson Services Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Paterson New Jersey
Shampoo $1.0 $1.06
Movie $12.49 $10.68
Bowling $18.0 $14.67
Haircut $20.93 $18.62
Beauty Salon $36.53 $39.05

Detailed Paterson Groceries Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Paterson New Jersey
Ground Beef $4.09 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.79 $1.39
Milk $2.44 $2.05
Potatoes $3.25 $3.29
Pizza $11.36 $10.62
Beer $9.32 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.22 $2.34

Detailed Paterson Health Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Paterson New Jersey
Optometrist $106.0 $108.57
Doctor $91.0 $116.17
Dentist $102.33 $99.13

Detailed Paterson Transportation Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Paterson New Jersey
Gasoline $2.37 $2.22
Tire Balancing $54.12 $50.07

Detailed Paterson Utilities Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Paterson New Jersey
All Electricity $178.53 $167.67
Phone $179.87 $175.64

Paterson SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
3
Diversity
9
Safety
5
Amenities
10
Education
4
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Paterson

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Paterson. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Clifton, NJ has a cost of living index of 128, 1.1x Paterson.

  • Fair Lawn, NJ has a cost of living index of 137, 1.2x Paterson.

  • Elmwood Park, NJ has a cost of living index of 129, 1.1x Paterson.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Paterson
Clifton, NJ 89,460 128 1.1x
Fair Lawn, NJ 34,820 137 1.2x
Elmwood Park, NJ 21,239 129 1.1x
Eastchester, NY 20,636 163 1.4x
Hawthorne, NJ 19,507 130 1.1x
Woodland Park, NJ 13,265 133 1.1x
Glen Rock, NJ 12,098 163 1.4x
Dobbs Ferry, NY 11,511 169 1.5x
Totowa, NJ 11,013 131 1.1x
Haledon, NJ 8,936 121 1.0x

Articles About New Jersey

Enjoy The Snack?