Paterson, NJ

Census Place

Add Comparison

2023 Population

157,660

0.129% 1-year decline

US Senator

Cory Booker

Democratic Party

US Senator

Andy Kim

Democratic Party

2023 Median Age

33.3

0.604% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

23.6%

0.647% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$53,766

3.21% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$335,400

6.78% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

67,263

0.307% 1-year decline

About

In 2023, Paterson, NJ had a population of 158k people with a median age of 33.3 and a median household income of $53,766. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Paterson, NJ declined from 157,864 to 157,660, a −0.129% decrease and its median household income grew from $52,092 to $53,766, a 3.21% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Paterson, NJ are Other (Hispanic) (34.6%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (23.3%), Two+ (Hispanic) (19.4%), White (Non-Hispanic) (7.82%), and White (Hispanic) (7.65%).

None of the households in Paterson, NJ reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

76.4% of the residents in Paterson, NJ are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Paterson, NJ are Passaic County Community College (839 degrees awarded in 2022) and Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences (230 degrees).

In 2023, the median property value in Paterson, NJ was $335,400, and the homeownership rate was 26.2%.

Most people in Paterson, NJ drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 23.1 minutes. The average car ownership in Paterson, NJ was 1 car per household.

United States New Jersey Passaic County, NJ New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA Bergen County (West Central)--Fair Lawn, Garfield & Lodi PUMA, NJ Passaic County (South)--Passaic & Clifton (SE) PUMA, NJ Passaic County (Central)--Hawthorne PUMA, NJ Passaic County--Paterson PUMA, NJ

Population & Diversity

Paterson, NJ is home to a population of 158k people, from which 76.4% are citizens. As of 2023, 44.1% of Paterson, NJ residents were born outside of the country (69.5k people).

In 2023, there were 1.48 times more Other (Hispanic) residents (54.6k people) in Paterson, NJ than any other race or ethnicity. There were 36.8k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 30.5k Two+ (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

76.4%

2023 Citizenship

77.2%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 76.4% of Paterson, NJ residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Paterson, NJ was 77.2%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Paterson, NJ compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Paterson, NJ

Other (Hispanic)
54.6k ± 2.58k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
36.8k ± 1.37k
Two+ (Hispanic)
30.5k ± 2.5k

62.8%

Hispanic Population

99k people

62.8% of the people in Paterson, NJ are hispanic (99k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Paterson, NJ as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for New Jersey.

Most Common Origin

India
273,669 ± 12,652 people
Dominican Republic
204,992 ± 10,992 people
Mexico
104,320 ± 7,885 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of New Jersey was India, the natal country of 273,669 New Jersey residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 204,992 and Mexico with 104,320.

Foreign-Born Population

44.1%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

69.5k people

43.6%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

68.8k people

As of 2023, 44.1% of Paterson, NJ residents (69.5k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Paterson, NJ was 43.6%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Paterson, NJ compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
641 ± 274
Gulf War (2001-)
257 ± 126
Korea
60 ± 76

Paterson, NJ has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.49 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Paterson, NJ employs 67.3k people. The largest industries in Paterson, NJ are Health Care & Social Assistance (10,412 people), Manufacturing (9,860 people), and Retail Trade (8,820 people), and the highest paying industries are Public Administration ($60,257), Utilities ($59,583), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($54,338).

Males in New Jersey have an average income that is 1.36 times higher than the average income of females, which is $77,965. The income inequality in New Jersey (measured using the Gini index) is 0.489, which is higher than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

67.3k

2023 Value

± 2,266

−0.307%

1 Year decline

± 4.67%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Paterson, NJ declined at a rate of −0.307%, from 67.5k employees to 67.3k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Paterson, NJ, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (8,242 people), Production Occupations (7,996 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (6,599 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Paterson, NJ.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in New Jersey (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

View Full Dashboard

Industries

Employment by Industries

67.3k

2023 Value

± 2,266

−0.307%

1 Year decline

± 4.67%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Paterson, NJ declined at a rate of −0.307%, from 67.5k employees to 67.3k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Paterson, NJ, are Health Care & Social Assistance (10,412 people), Manufacturing (9,860 people), and Retail Trade (8,820 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Paterson, NJ, though some of these residents may live in Paterson, NJ and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$38,634

Median earning men ± $2,092

$30,766

Median earning women ± $1,166

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Public Administration ($62,066), Wholesale Trade ($50,550), and Information ($50,417).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Public Administration ($55,574), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($47,630), and Construction ($44,333).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for New Jersey.

Y-Axis

2.27%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.24M people employed in New Jersey. This represents a 2.27% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 16.5%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in New Jersey.

Education

In 2022, universities in Paterson, NJ awarded 1,069 degrees. The student population of Paterson, NJ in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 1,989 male students and 3,212 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Paterson, NJ are Hispanic or Latino (594 and 55.6%), followed by White (238 and 22.3%), Black or African American (110 and 10.3%), and Asian (61 and 5.71%).

The largest universities in Paterson, NJ by number of degrees awarded are Passaic County Community College (839 and 78.5%) and Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences (230 and 21.5%).

The most popular majors in Paterson, NJ are Liberal Arts & Sciences (239 and 22.4%), Electrician (88 and 8.23%), and General Business (77 and 7.2%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2022 there were 5,201 students enrolled in Paterson, NJ, 38.2% men and 61.8% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Hispanic or Latino with 3,231 records, of which 63.3% were women and 36.7% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Liberal Arts & Sciences
239 degrees awarded
General Business
77 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
54 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Paterson, NJ was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 239 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Paterson, NJ according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Passaic County Community College
839 degrees awarded
Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences
230 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Passaic County Community College with 839 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2022, 487 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Paterson, NJ, which is 0.837 times less than the 582 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Hispanic or Latino students. These 594 degrees mean that there were 2.5 times more degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 238 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($7,260) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($90) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($1,600) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for New Jersey.

Measure

In 2022, 1.15% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 1.13% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for New Jersey.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (1.92M), Bachelors Degree (1.77M), and Some college (1.3M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Paterson, NJ was $335,400 in 2023, which is 1.11 times larger than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $314,100 to $335,400, a 6.78% increase. The homeownership rate in Paterson, NJ is 26.2%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Paterson, NJ have an average commute time of 23.1 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Paterson, NJ is lower than the national average, with an average of 1 car per household.

Median household income in Paterson, NJ is $53,766. In 2023, the place with the highest median household income in Paterson, NJ was Census Tract 1826 with a value of $92,972, followed by Census Tract 1819 and Census Tract 1831.02, with respective values of $81,607 and $80,000.

Housing

Property

$335,400

Median Property Value 2023

±$9,017

$13,027

Median Property Taxes

±$869

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Paterson, NJ the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Paterson, NJ compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

26.2%

Homeownership

2023

60.5%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 26.2% of the housing units in Paterson, NJ were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 26.3%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Paterson, NJ compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 1826
Census Tract 1819
Census Tract 1831.02

In 2023, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Paterson, NJ was Census Tract 1826 with a value of $92,972, followed by Census Tract 1819 and Census Tract 1831.02, with respective values of $81,607 and $80,000.

The following map shows all of the places in Paterson, NJ colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$53,766

Median Household Income

± $2,710

49.7k

Number of Households

± 1,952

In 2023, the median household income of the 49.7k households in Paterson, NJ grew to $53,766 from the previous year's value of $52,092.

The following chart displays the households in Paterson, NJ distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Paterson, NJ is from New Jersey.

0.489

2022 Wage GINI in New Jersey

0.49

2021 Wage GINI in New Jersey

In 2022, the income inequality in New Jersey was 0.489 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.278% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for New Jersey was higher than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in New Jersey in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in New Jersey across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (62.4%)
Carpooled (17.1%)
Public Transit (8%)

In 2023, 62.4% of workers in Paterson, NJ drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (17.1%) and those who used public transit to get to work (8%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

23.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Paterson, NJ have a shorter commute time (23.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 1.83% of the workforce in Paterson, NJ have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Paterson, NJ compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

1 car

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Paterson, NJ distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Paterson, NJ have 1 car.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

23.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Paterson, NJ (36.9k out of 157k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Males 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Paterson, NJ is Hispanic, followed by Other and Black.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

80.9% of the population of Paterson, NJ has health coverage, with 24.8% on employee plans, 42.8% on Medicaid, 7.34% on Medicare, 5.83% on non-group plans, and 0.145% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Passaic County, NJ see 1725 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.058% increase from the previous year (1724 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1412 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 668 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Passaic County, NJ.

1,725 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Passaic County, NJ

Primary care physicians in Passaic County, NJ see an average of 1,725 patients per year. This represents a 0.058% increase from the previous year (1,724 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Passaic County, NJ in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 28.9% under 18 years, 23.5% between 18 and 34 years, 35.4% between 35 and 64 years, and 12.1% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.9% were men and 53.1% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

19.1%

Uninsured

24.8%

Employer Coverage

42.8%

Medicaid

7.34%

Medicare

5.83%

Non-Group

0.145%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Paterson, NJ declined by 0.826% from 19.3% to 19.1%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Paterson, NJ changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Keep Exploring

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA