Cost of Living in Paterson

Paterson's cost of living carries a real, disclosed tension: potentially accessible housing prices, per one source, offset by a genuinely elevated property-tax rate.

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A real, wide, disclosed spread on housing cost

Paterson's median home value figures ranged from approximately $257,305 to $528,882 across sources reviewed this pass -- a real, unusually wide spread this record discloses honestly rather than resolving to one number.

A genuinely elevated property-tax offset

Paterson's own effective property tax rate ran 2.91%-4.90% depending on source -- either figure runs meaningfully above New Jersey's own 1.88%-2.23% statewide average.

New Jersey's graduated income tax applies statewide

New Jersey's real, graduated 7-bracket income tax (1.4%-10.75%) applies in Paterson as statewide, alongside the state's simple, uniform 6.625% sales tax.

Key takeaways

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-25. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.