Signals
Lake Ronkonkoma
Paterson
Opportunity
68 · Top 26%
vs39 · Bottom 16%
Climate
70 · Bottom 48%
vs65 · Bottom 35%
Physical resilience
95 · Top 4%
vs36 · Bottom 28%
Housing affordability
59 · Bottom 19%
vs36 · Bottom 3%
Access
82 · Bottom 24%
vs95 · Top 37%
Economic stability
65 · Top 40%
vs48 · Bottom 28%
Measured values
| Metric | Lake Ronkonkoma | Paterson | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,221 | 158,735 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $101,633 | $55,997 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $48,549 | $24,403 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,017/sq mi | 18,868/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $525,000 | $360,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,170 | $1,548 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.6% | 26.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 6.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | 1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.1% | 11.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.8% | 21.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 83°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.0" | 44.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 37 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 24.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.6 | 33.3 | 2024 ACS 5-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 Ronkonkoma
Elevated or high exposure: coastal flooding, hurricane.
Paterson
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
Your best match
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Lake Ronkonkoma
73
Your Score
—
Area Score
Paterson
48
Your Score
43
Area Score
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Full profiles: Lake Ronkonkoma, NY · Paterson, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology