Living Cost Compare
Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, West Valley City, UT is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $53,766 in Paterson, NJ and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 39% higher in West Valley City, UT. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Paterson, NJ
West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio
$786
$1,085
+38% in West Valley City, UT
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$1,191
+1% in West Valley City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,468
$1,333
+9% in Paterson, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,729
$1,723
+0% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$335,400
$377,300
+12% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$53,766
$88,604
+65% in West Valley City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$55,240
+10% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.3 yr
30.3 yr
+3.0 yr in Paterson, NJ
Homeownership
26.2%
71.1%
+44.9 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
12.5%
15.7%
+3.2 pp in West Valley City, UT
Avg Commute
23.1 min
22.2 min
+0.9 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,010.1
471.8
+53% in Paterson, NJ
Property Crime
2,391.4
1,855.5
+22% 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
52.2°F
52.8°F
+0.6°F in West Valley City, UT
Annual Precipitation
49.0 in
16.1 in
+32.9 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in West Valley City, UT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
13.4
+46% in Paterson, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.68
$11.84
+33% in Paterson, NJ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in West Valley City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in West Valley City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in West Valley City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Paterson, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / UT)
6.625%
6.1%
+0.5 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
10.75%
4.50%
+6.3 pp in NJ

Paterson vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Paterson or West Valley City?
West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Paterson than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Paterson versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Paterson or West Valley City?
Paterson is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).