Paramus receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Paramus
University Park
Opportunity
79 · Top 8%
vs68 · Top 27%
Growth
47 · Bottom 44%
vs46 · Bottom 43%
Climate
71 · Top 47%
vs63 · Bottom 29%
Physical resilience
47 · Bottom 37%
vs52 · Bottom 45%
Housing affordability
57 · Bottom 17%
vs64 · Bottom 25%
Access
94 · Top 43%
vs99 · Top 8%
Economic stability
67 · Top 36%
vs63 · Top 45%
Measured values
| Metric | Paramus | University Park | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,568 | 25,155 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $144,349 | $250,000+ | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $58,552 | $113,291 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,544/sq mi | 6,819/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $813,900 | $1,861,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $3,032 | $3,272 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 82.6% | 83.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.5% | -0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.8% | 90.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 4.7% | 4.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 65 | 56 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.4 | 2.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -27.8% | -11.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 97°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 38°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.3" | 38.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 3 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 33.6 min | 19.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 49.1 | 29.4 | 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
Paramus
Elevated or high exposure: coastal flooding, earthquake.
University Park
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Paramus
67
Your Score
66
Area Score
University Park
65
Your Score
62
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Paramus, NJ · University Park, TX · How this is calculated: methodology