Living Cost Compare
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Overland Park, KS versus $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Overland Park, KS is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $103,838 in Overland Park, KS and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 48% higher in Overland Park, KS. Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Overland Park, KS
Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio
$1,270
$786
+38% in Overland Park, KS
1 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,183
+3% in Overland Park, KS
2 Bedroom
$1,589
$1,468
+8% in Overland Park, KS
3 Bedroom
$1,828
$1,729
+5% in Overland Park, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$384,400
$335,400
+13% in Overland Park, KS

Income

Median Household Income
$103,838
$53,766
+48% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,820
$61,430
+21% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.6 yr
33.3 yr
+5.3 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
61.5%
26.2%
+35.3 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
62.9%
12.5%
+50.4 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
19.9 min
23.1 min
+3.2 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
188.4
1,010.1
+436% in Paterson, NJ
Property Crime
1,790.5
2,391.4
+34% 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
55.2°F
52.2°F
+3.0°F in Overland Park, KS
Annual Precipitation
40.0 in
49.0 in
+9.0 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Paterson, NJ

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.7
24.9
+59% in Paterson, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$25.12
$17.68
+30% in Overland Park, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Paterson, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Overland Park, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Paterson, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Paterson, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Paterson, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KS / NJ)
6.5%
6.625%
+0.1 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
5.58%
10.75%
+5.2 pp in NJ

Overland Park vs Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Overland Park or Paterson?
Overland Park, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Overland Park than in Paterson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Overland Park versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Overland Park or Paterson?
Overland Park is taxed under Kansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).