Durham, NC 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.
Durham
69.4
#1213 nationally
Paterson
63.6
#1757 nationally
Paterson leads in walk score (76 vs 33). Durham leads in median household income ($67,432 vs $52,092). Durham leads in cost of living index (102 vs 122).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Durham, NC | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1213) | 63.6 (#1757) |
| Population | 283,506 | 156,452 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $395,976 | $542,128 |
| Median Household Income | $67,432 | $52,092 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 23.4 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | 76 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 26.8 |
| School Rating | 6.4 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 122 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+61.9 | R+2.9 |
D+
69.4 Score
Durham, NC
Bull City innovation and inclusion
Median Home
$395,976
Population
283,506
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
Southeast
View Durham, NC →
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 →