Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 8% higher in Dover, DE. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio
$993
$786
+21% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,183
+13% in Paterson, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,468
+24% in Paterson, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,729
+6% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$335,400
+35% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$53,766
+8% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$61,430
+32% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
33.3 yr
+1.8 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
26.2%
+20.8 pp in Dover, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
12.5%
+14.6 pp in Dover, DE
Avg Commute
24.0 min
23.1 min
+0.9 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
1,010.1
+1% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
2,391.4
+61% in Dover, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
56.9°F
52.2°F
+4.7°F in Dover, DE
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
49.0 in
+3.0 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)
19.3
24.9
+29% in Paterson, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$17.68
+41% in Dover, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Paterson, NJ
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Paterson, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Dover, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Paterson, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Paterson, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Paterson, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / NJ)
None
6.625%
+6.6 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
10.75%
+4.2 pp in NJ

Dover vs Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Paterson?
Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Paterson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Paterson?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).