Los Angeles, 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.
Los Angeles
60.9
#1917 nationally
Paterson
63.6
#1757 nationally
Los Angeles leads in median household income ($74,891 vs $52,092). Paterson leads in cost of living index (122 vs 173). Paterson leads in average commute (23.4 min vs 31.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 60.9 (#1917) | 63.6 (#1757) |
| Population | 3,822,238 | 156,452 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $946,268 | $542,128 |
| Median Household Income | $74,891 | $52,092 |
| Average Commute | 31.4 min | 23.4 min |
| Walk Score | 68 | 76 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 26.8 |
| School Rating | 5.4 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 173 | 122 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+32.9 | R+2.9 |
D-
60.9 Score
Los Angeles, CA
Entertainment capital of the world
Median Home
$946,268
Population
3,822,238
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Pacific
View Los Angeles, 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 →
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