Lancaster, 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.
Lancaster
61.5
#1905 nationally
Paterson
63.6
#1757 nationally
Paterson leads in walk score (76 vs 29). Lancaster leads in median household income ($71,367 vs $52,092). Paterson leads in average commute (23.4 min vs 30.9 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 61.5 (#1905) | 63.6 (#1757) |
| Population | 166,236 | 156,452 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $465,459 | $542,128 |
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $52,092 |
| Average Commute | 30.9 min | 23.4 min |
| Walk Score | 29 | 76 |
| Crime Level | 22.9 | 26.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 126 | 122 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+32.9 | R+2.9 |
D-
61.5 Score
Lancaster, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$465,459
Population
166,236
Crime
High
Walk Score
29
Pacific
View Lancaster, 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 →
Try a different matchup
Swap Lancaster for: