Question 1

Is Paterson, NJ or Princeton, NJ cheaper to buy in?

Accepted Answer

Paterson, NJ is cheaper. The median home price in Paterson, NJ is approximately $283,300 and in Princeton, NJ it is approximately $686,000 — a difference of $402,700.

Question 2

Is Paterson, NJ or Princeton, NJ safer?

Accepted Answer

Princeton, NJ scores higher on safety. Paterson, NJ has violent crime rated High and property crime rated High. Princeton, NJ has violent crime rated Low and property crime rated Low.

Question 3

Is Paterson, NJ or Princeton, NJ more walkable?

Accepted Answer

Princeton, NJ is more walkable. Paterson, NJ has a Walk Score of 33/100 and Princeton, NJ has a Walk Score of 78/100.

Question 4

Which has better schools, Paterson, NJ or Princeton, NJ?

Accepted Answer

Paterson, NJ has higher-rated schools. Paterson, NJ has a school rating of 6.8/10 and Princeton, NJ has a rating of N/A.

Question 5

Should I live in Paterson, NJ or Princeton, NJ?

Accepted Answer

Both neighborhoods have distinct trade-offs — review the data above to find your best fit.

Category	Paterson, NJ	Princeton, NJ
Housing
Verdict	Hard pass	Think twice
Median Price	$283K ✓ Lower price	$686K
Median Rent	$1K ✓ Lower rent	$3K
Median Income	$39K	$157K ✓ Higher income
Price Volatility	Moderate	Moderate
Getting Around
Walk Score	33/100	78/100 ✓ More walkable
Transit Score	10/100	40/100 ✓ Better transit
Bike Score	N/A	60/100 ✓ More bikeable
Commute	45 min ✓ Shorter commute	82 min
Safety & Environment
Safety Grade	F	A ✓ Safer
Violent Crime	High	Low ✓ Lower risk
Property Crime	High	Low ✓ Lower risk
Flood Risk	Low	Low
Air Quality	Moderate	Good ✓ Cleaner air
Community
Schools	6.8/10 ✓ Better schools	N/A
Best for	Budget-conscious buyersMilitary families with stable incomePeople seeking a diverse community	FamiliesProfessionalsRetirees

Paterson, NJ vs Princeton, NJ

Bottom line