Signals
Upper Montclair
Paterson
Opportunity
66 · Top 30%
vs39 · Bottom 16%
Climate
65 · Bottom 35%
vs65 · Bottom 35%
Physical resilience
49 · Bottom 42%
vs36 · Bottom 28%
Housing affordability
89 · Top 33%
vs36 · Bottom 3%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs95 · Top 37%
Economic stability
79 · Top 8%
vs48 · Bottom 28%
Measured values
| Metric | Upper Montclair | Paterson | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,457 | 158,735 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $250,000+ | $55,997 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $112,208 | $24,403 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 5,234/sq mi | 18,868/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $989,000 | $360,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,237 | $1,548 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 85.8% | 26.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 6.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.9% | 1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 84.7% | 11.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 1.9% | 21.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 85°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.9" | 44.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 45.3 min | 24.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.2 | 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
Upper Montclair
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Paterson
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Upper Montclair
75
Your Score
—
Area Score
Paterson
48
Your Score
43
Area Score
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Full profiles: Upper Montclair, NJ · Paterson, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology