Lakewood vs Paterson: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Lakewood, CO and Paterson, NJ, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 156,149 | 157,864 |
| Median household income | $82,786 | $52,092 |
| Median home value | $494,100 | $314,100 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,665 | $1,392 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Lakewood, CO and Paterson, NJ comes down to what you value most. Paterson has the lower median home value, and Paterson has the lower median rent.
Lakewood has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Lakewood or Paterson?
- By median home value, Paterson is the cheaper of the two ($314,100 vs $494,100). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Lakewood or Paterson?
- Median household income is $82,786 in Lakewood versus $52,092 in Paterson, per the US Census Bureau.