Berkeley, CA vs Paterson, NJ
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Berkeley
59.6
#1947 nationally
Paterson
63.6
#1757 nationally
Berkeley leads in median household income ($104,716 vs $52,092). Paterson leads in cost of living index (122 vs 222). Berkeley leads in crime level (17.5 vs 26.8).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 59.6 (#1947) | 63.6 (#1757) |
| Population | 118,962 | 156,452 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,460,437 | $542,128 |
| Median Household Income | $104,716 | $52,092 |
| Average Commute | 30.4 min | 23.4 min |
| Walk Score | 85 | 76 |
| Crime Level | 17.5 | 26.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 222 | 122 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+53.6 | R+2.9 |
F
59.6 Score
Berkeley, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,460,437
Population
118,962
Crime
High
Walk Score
85
Pacific
View Berkeley, CA →
D
63.6 Score
Paterson, NJ
Mid-size New Jersey city with community character
Median Home
$542,128
Population
156,452
Crime
Very High
Walk Score
76
Northeast
View Paterson, NJ →