Boston, MA 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.
Boston
66.2
#1568 nationally
Paterson
63.6
#1757 nationally
Boston leads in median household income ($81,744 vs $52,092). Paterson leads in average commute (23.4 min vs 30.2 min). Paterson leads in cost of living index (122 vs 155).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boston, MA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.2 (#1568) | 63.6 (#1757) |
| Population | 684,379 | 156,452 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,763 | $542,128 |
| Median Household Income | $81,744 | $52,092 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 23.4 min |
| Walk Score | 83 | 76 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 26.8 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 155 | 122 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+52.5 | R+2.9 |
D
66.2 Score
Boston, MA
Innovation hub with historic charm
Median Home
$787,763
Population
684,379
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Northeast
View Boston, MA →
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 →