Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,440/mo est.

vs
Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,440 in Bridgeport, CT versus $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Paterson, NJ is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 5% higher in Bridgeport, CT. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio
$950
$786
+17% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,183
+0% in Paterson, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,468
+3% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,729
+5% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$335,400
+33% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$53,766
+5% in Bridgeport, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$61,430
+0% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
33.3 yr
+3.1 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
26.2%
+17.1 pp in Bridgeport, CT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
12.5%
+10.6 pp in Bridgeport, CT
Avg Commute
29.9 min
23.1 min
+6.8 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
1,010.1
+151% in Paterson, NJ
Property Crime
1,478.4
2,391.4
+62% in Paterson, NJ

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.5°F
52.2°F
+0.3°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
49.0 in
+6.3 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
24.9
+3% in Paterson, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$17.68
+24% in Bridgeport, CT

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / NJ)
6.35%
6.625%
+0.3 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
10.75%
+3.8 pp in NJ

Bridgeport vs Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Paterson?
Paterson, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,440, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Paterson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Paterson?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).