Residential comparison · 13 facts
Paterson, NJ vs Ridgewood, NJ
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Paterson needs about $97,500 in Ridgewood to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Ridgewood, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $72,500 in Paterson.
A few differences
- Ridgewood is higher on median household income ($208,211 vs $55,997).
- Paterson is lower on cost of living index (107 vs 150).
- Paterson is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,588/mo vs $2,506/mo).
Paterson vs Ridgewood · facet by facet
| Facet | Paterson, NJ | Ridgewood, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $360,100 | $891,200 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,588/mo | $2,506/mo |
| Property tax rate | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| State & local income tax | 2.26% | 2.26% |
| Sales tax | 6.6% | 6.6% |
| Cost of living index | 107 | 150 |
| Groceries index | 106 | 106 |
| Utilities | $180/mo | $180/mo |
| Median household income | $55,997 | $208,211 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| Crime index | 25/100 | 25/100 |
| School rating | 8.3/10 | 8.3/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 205 days | 205 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Paterson, NJ · Ridgewood, NJ
Questions & answers
- Is Paterson cheaper than Ridgewood?
- Paterson has the lower day-to-day cost index (107 vs 150 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Ridgewood equals $85,000 in Paterson?
- A household earning $85,000 in Paterson needs about $97,500 in Ridgewood to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Ridgewood lifestyle costs about $72,500 in Paterson.