Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Paterson, NJ

    Is Paterson a good place to live?

    Watch Paterson

    Paterson ranks #41 of 42 New Jersey cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (17/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $335,400
    +6.8% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,457
    per month
    Household income
    $53,766
    median
    Unemployment
    10.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Paterson

    The median home value in Paterson is $335,400 and median rent is $1,457 a month, against a median household income of $53,766. Homes cost about 6.2× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Paterson crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across New Jersey the 2025 rate was 199 violent and 1,268 property crimes per 100,000 people — #39 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Paterson, NJ

    Paterson has about 157,660 residents, 10.2% unemployment and 10% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Paterson with

    Paterson vs NewarkPaterson vs Jersey CityPaterson vs ElizabethPaterson vs Toms RiverPaterson vs TrentonPaterson vs CliftonPaterson vs CamdenPaterson vs Bayonne

    More: Where to move in New Jersey · Best counties in New Jersey

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report