Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Fresno, CA versus $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Fresno, CA is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $66,804 in Fresno, CA and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 20% higher in Fresno, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: California vs East Coast (PADD 1).
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — FAX vs — (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Fresno vs Paterson — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Paterson?
- Fresno, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in Paterson?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $47,000 in Paterson.
- Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Paterson?
- Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).