Signals
Lake Hopatcong
Paterson
Opportunity
76 · Top 12%
vs39 · Bottom 16%
Climate
62 · Bottom 23%
vs65 · Bottom 35%
Physical resilience
57 · Bottom 49%
vs36 · Bottom 28%
Housing affordability
93 · Top 24%
vs36 · Bottom 3%
Access
86 · Bottom 31%
vs95 · Top 37%
Economic stability
76 · Top 14%
vs48 · Bottom 28%
Measured values
| Metric | Lake Hopatcong | Paterson | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,259 | 158,735 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $117,625 | $55,997 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $57,717 | $24,403 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,389/sq mi | 18,868/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $424,200 | $360,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,686 | $1,548 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 91.7% | 26.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 6.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.9% | 1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.4% | 11.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 4.0% | 21.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 84°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.8" | 44.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 30 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 35.1 min | 24.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 46.0 | 33.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 1 | 49 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 9.83 | 13.17 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 15.5% | 72.8% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lake Hopatcong
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
Paterson
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
Your best match
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Lake Hopatcong
75
Your Score
—
Area Score
Paterson
48
Your Score
43
Area Score
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Full profiles: Lake Hopatcong, NJ · Paterson, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology