Living Cost Compare
Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,430 in Paterson, NJ versus $970 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,766 in Paterson, NJ and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 14% higher in Paterson, NJ. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Paterson, NJ
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$786
$760
+3% in Paterson, NJ
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$772
+35% in Paterson, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,468
$926
+37% in Paterson, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,729
$1,158
+33% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$335,400
$165,200
+51% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$53,766
$45,984
+14% in Paterson, NJ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$45,780
+25% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.3 yr
33.6 yr
+0.3 yr in Springfield, MO
Homeownership
26.2%
42.9%
+16.7 pp in Springfield, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
12.5%
30.3%
+17.8 pp in Springfield, MO
Avg Commute
23.1 min
18.0 min
+5.1 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,010.1
1,189.8
+18% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
2,391.4
4,231.6
+77% in Springfield, MO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.2°F
56.3°F
+4.1°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
49.0 in
45.6 in
+3.5 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
16.2
+35% in Paterson, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.68
$28.78
+63% in Springfield, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Paterson, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Paterson, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Paterson, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Paterson, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / MO)
6.625%
4.225%
+2.4 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
10.75%
4.70%
+6.0 pp in NJ

Paterson vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Paterson or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Paterson than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Paterson versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Paterson or Springfield?
Paterson is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).