Living in Paterson, NJ
Mid-size city in New Jersey
Paterson is a mid-size city in New Jersey, home to about 158,000 people, with 13.8 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, you can walk or take transit almost everywhere. Life moves at a very fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Paterson a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 31 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Easy flying: EWR is 16 mi away
- Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
- Big job market: about 13.8 million people live within 31 mi
👎 Cons
- Higher taxes: about $2,267 state income tax per resident, 2.91% property tax
- Few dog parks: 25 within 9 mi
- Cloudier than most places
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Paterson ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Paterson: common questions
What is the cost of living in Paterson?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $508k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,840 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 113, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Paterson?
New Jersey collects about $2,267 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 2.91% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Paterson safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (2.2× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Paterson?
Paterson has cold winters: winter days average around 42°F and summer days around 84°F, with roughly 28″ of snow a year.
Does Paterson get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding: 10 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.42 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Paterson?
The nearest major airport is EWR, about 16 mi away.
How Paterson scores
Each bar compares Paterson with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Paterson right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.