Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Paterson, NJ is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 25% higher in Newark, 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.

Newark, DE
Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$786
+52% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$1,183
+15% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,468
+3% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,729
+10% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$335,400
+6% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$53,766
+25% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$61,430
+13% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
33.3 yr
+11.3 yr in Paterson, NJ
Homeownership
50.3%
26.2%
+24.1 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
12.5%
+45.0 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
23.1 min
+3.5 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
1,010.1
+210% in Paterson, NJ
Property Crime
2,024.6
2,391.4
+18% 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
54.9°F
52.2°F
+2.7°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
49.0 in
+6.0 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 Newark, 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 Newark, 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

Newark vs Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Paterson?
Paterson, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Paterson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Paterson?
Newark 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).