Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Paterson?

Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Paterson?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $47,000 in Paterson.

Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Paterson?

Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Paterson under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Hattiesburg vs Paterson Cost of Living 2026

Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 18% higher in Paterson, NJ. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS

Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio

$630

$786

+25% in Paterson, NJ

1 Bedroom

$841

$1,183

+41% in Paterson, NJ

2 Bedroom

$980

$1,468

+50% in Paterson, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,729

+45% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$153,600

$335,400

+118% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$44,140

$53,766

+22% in Paterson, NJ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$37,750

$61,430

+63% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

33.3 yr

+4.6 yr in Paterson, NJ

Homeownership

36.5%

26.2%

+10.3 pp in Hattiesburg, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.0%

12.5%

+22.5 pp in Hattiesburg, MS

Avg Commute

17.0 min

23.1 min

+6.1 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

221.5

1,010.1

+356% in Paterson, NJ

Property Crime

3,475.7

2,391.4

+31% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

66.1°F

52.2°F

+13.9°F in Hattiesburg, MS

Annual Precipitation

59.2 in

49.0 in

+10.1 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Paterson, NJ

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

24.9

+68% in Paterson, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$17.68

+39% in Hattiesburg, MS

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 Hattiesburg, MS

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 (MS / NJ)

6.625%

+0.4 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

10.75%

+6.8 pp in NJ

Hattiesburg vs Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Paterson?: Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Paterson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Paterson?: Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% 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).