Paterson, NJ, known as 'The Silk City,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in Passaic County, Paterson is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Newark (15 miles) and New York City (20 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Paterson's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Paterson is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, the historic Lambert Castle, and the scenic Garret Mountain Reservation. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Paterson Museum to the bustling Center City Mall, known for its shopping and dining. Paterson's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from American cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Paterson Art Walk and the Great Falls Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Paterson's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Passaic County Community College contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Paterson is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Paterson Performing Arts Center and the Ivanhoe Artists Mosaic are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Paterson provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Paterson’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the New Jersey Jackals (Frontier League), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Paterson include healthcare, education, and manufacturing, with significant employers such as St. Joseph's University Medical Center and Paterson Public Schools driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and trains, making commuting convenient for residents.
Amenities
A wealth of amenities, such as restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, parks and fitness facilities, are all conveniently located within walking distance.
Commute
An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.
Health & Safety
Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.
Cost Of Living
Living in this region comes with a high cost of living, translating to elevated costs for homes, goods and services, groceries, utilities, health care and transportation.
Paterson is a moderately-sized city located in the state of New Jersey. The city has a population of 145,484 residents. With a population density of 17,292 people per square mile, Paterson is well above the nation's average density level. More than a quarter of the residents of Paterson identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 56% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. Paterson could be a great place for young adults and students as the average age of 33 years old is below the nation’s average. Paterson is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 41% married, this city falls well below the national average. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Paterson, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 24 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Paterson could be a positive experience compared to other cities in New Jersey if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like amenities, commute, employment, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Paterson and in the areas around Paterson is a much easier task.
Using data and statistics Paterson has received a livability score of 70 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 77th percentile when compared to all other cities. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Paterson has higher than average rankings for the following: amenities (A+). There is at least one category that does not have great scores in Paterson. The following was graded with a discouraging score: crime (F), cost of living (F), education (D) and housing (D).
If you're considering living in Paterson, it comes with numerous advantages, particularly in the form of an extensive selection of local amenities. These amenities play a pivotal role in elevating the quality of life within this vibrant community. From easily accessible grocery stores, to conveniently located fitness facilities, a diverse range of dining establishments and a multitude of shopping options, Paterson provides a comprehensive array of resources for its residents. This ensures the effortless fulfillment of your daily needs and creates ample opportunities for relaxation and recreation. The convenience of these local offerings greatly contributes to the overall appeal of the area, making it an enticing destination for those in search of convenience, diversity, and a gratifying lifestyle. If you're contemplating a move, the abundance of local amenities could very well be a defining characteristic of this area. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Lambert Castle, Great Falls National Historical Park, and Paterson Museum.
Assuming that Paterson meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Paterson. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Paterson are simply unattainable. The median home price for Paterson homes is $257,700, which is 18.6% lower than the New Jersey average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Paterson, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 5.7, which is 32.6% higher than the New Jersey average.
| Statistic | Paterson | New Jersey | National |
| Average one way commute | 24min | 31min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 66.0% | 71.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 17.7% | 8.1% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 8.6% | 11.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 4.2% | 3.0% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 2.7% | 4.1% | 4.6% |
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