Head to head
Paterson, NJ vs Springfield, MA
Springfield is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $19/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $1,000 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Paterson is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Paterson51 | Springfield45 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $4,262 | $4,243 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $10,173 | $10,225 |
| Salary for comfort | $79,000/yr | $80,000/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,457 | $1,734 |
| Median home value | $335,400 | $222,700 |
| Median household income | $53,766 | $51,339 |
| Unemployment | 6.9% | 6.7% |
| Housing score | 20 | 37 |
| Jobs score | 39 | 23 |
| Safety score | 27 | 25 |
| Climate score | 98 | 73 |
| Amenities score | 29 | 23 |
| Population | 157.7K | 154.8K |
| Summer high / winter low | 86° / 24° | 83° / 13° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Paterson, NJ
Springfield, MA