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City · 158,735 residents · Passaic County, New Jersey

Paterson , New Jersey

In Paterson, a typical home is worth $360,100 and typical rent is $1,548 a month. Compared with all of Passaic County, typical household income is 36% lower, the typical home value is 22% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 26 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $360,100

    22% below the county

    21% below New Jersey

    • Paterson
    • Passaic
    • New Jersey

  • Typical rent

    $1,548a month

    5% below the county

    10% below New Jersey

    • Paterson
    • Passaic
    • New Jersey

  • Typical household income

    $55,997a year

    36% below the county

    46% below New Jersey

    • Paterson
    • Passaic
    • New Jersey

  • Households that own their home

    27%

    26 points below the county

    37 points below New Jersey

    • Paterson
    • Passaic
    • New Jersey

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$540,919
5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,889 a month
0.6% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Paterson is in Passaic County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Passaic County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Paterson apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 27% of households in Paterson own their home, against 53% in Passaic County.

  2. The typical household income in Paterson is $55,997, 36% less than in Passaic County as a whole ($87,522).

  3. The typical home in Paterson is worth $360,100, 22% less than in Passaic County as a whole ($459,500).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Paterson

What homes there are in Paterson, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Homes here are varied: buildings of 2 to 4 homes are 55% of them, more than in Passaic County (31%), and no kind reaches half.

Year built

The typical year built in Paterson is 1954, about the same as in Passaic County (1956).

Homes in Paterson are smaller: 38% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Passaic County, 50%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Paterson cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($2,282): about 91%.

With a mortgage

$2,643 a month

Passaic County: $3,014 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,284 a month

Passaic County: $1,400 a month

Owners with a mortgage

68%

Passaic County: 65%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Paterson is $2,643 a month, less than in Passaic County ($3,014); without one, $1,284.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Paterson rose 48%; in Passaic County, it rose 34%.

Rents in Paterson rose faster than in Passaic County: 30% since 2015–2019, against 25%.

To compare: typical income in Paterson rose 35%; the home, +48%; the rent, +30%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasurePatersonPassaic CountyNew JerseyUnited States
Rental vacancy 2.4%2.1%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.6%0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room 11.9%7.7%4.0%3.4%
People per household 3.152.862.622.53
Drive alone 61%65%62%69%
Carpool 18%11%8%9%
Public transit 7%6%8%3%
Walk or bike 6%4%3%3%
Work from home 5%12%17%15%
Other means 2%2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Passaic County, the rental vacancy rate in Paterson is 2.4%.

More than one person per room: that is how 11.9% of households in Paterson live, more than in Passaic County (7.7%).

More people live in each home here: 3.15 on average, against 2.86 in Passaic County.

In Paterson, 18% of workers share a car to get to work; in Passaic County, 11%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Paterson?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Paterson, worth $360,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 76% of the typical household income in Paterson, which is $55,997 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $151,663 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Passaic County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Paterson. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $12,604 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,539

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$353,577
Total interest
$508,715
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,081 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,307 a month

  • Tight

    $1,307 to $1,680 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,680 a month

    Your payment · 76%

Compared with the typical household income in Paterson ($55,997 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,539
Principal & interest$2,395
Property tax$834
Home insurance$150
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$159

You need at least $12,604 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Paterson and Passaic County

Paterson is in Passaic County, New Jersey. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Paterson's own numbers

Typical home value
$360,100
Typical monthly rent
$1,548
Typical yearly household income
$55,997
Households that own their home
27%
Effective property tax rate
2.78%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Passaic County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,209,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,282
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+58%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.7%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Passaic County.

Everything about Passaic County

Buying

Buying a home in Paterson

A typical home in Paterson is worth $360,100: 22% below the county and 21% below New Jersey. With the typical household income in Paterson ($55,997 a year), a typical home costs 6.4 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Paterson 6.4 years
  • Passaic 5.3 years
  • New Jersey 4.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Passaic County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Passaic County rose 87% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Passaic County.

Period County New Jersey U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.8% +6.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +58% +63% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +87% +88% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Paterson next to Passaic County, New Jersey and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Paterson $360,100
  • Passaic $459,500
  • New Jersey $454,400
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Paterson $1,548
  • Passaic $1,621
  • New Jersey $1,720
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Paterson $55,997
  • Passaic $87,522
  • New Jersey $103,556
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Paterson next to Passaic County and New Jersey
Measure Paterson Passaic County New Jersey U.S.
Typical home value $360,100 $459,500 $454,400 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,548 $1,621 $1,720 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $55,997 $87,522 $103,556 $80,734
Households that own their home 27% 53% 64% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $10,001 $10,001 $9,590 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.78% 2.18% 2.11% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 59% 57% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Passaic County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Paterson

For a typical $360,100 home in Paterson, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Paterson's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,539a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $12,604
    Cash to close
    $23,407
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $159

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,473a month

    Down payment
    $18,005
    Cash to close
    $28,808
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $171

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,936a month

    Down payment
    $72,020
    Cash to close
    $82,823
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,269a month

    Down payment
    $54,015
    Cash to close
    $64,818
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Paterson and for Passaic County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Paterson

2.78%of the home’s value each year

$10,001 a year for the typical owner in Paterson.

  • Paterson 2.78%
  • Passaic 2.18%
  • New Jersey 2.11%

What New Jersey publishes ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ: one combined application (New Jersey Division of Taxation)

Exemptions and deadlines in New Jersey

Flood risk in Passaic County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Passaic County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.7%
3,719
Of those, with NFIP insurance
48%
County New Jersey U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.7% 6.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 48% 63% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Paterson

Typical rent in Paterson is $1,548 a month: 5% below the county. In Paterson, 59% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Passaic County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,282 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $43.88 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Passaic County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,772 $34.08 $70,880
1 bedroom $1,987 $38.21 $79,480
2 bedrooms $2,282 $43.88 $91,280
3 bedrooms $2,771 $53.29 $110,840
4 bedrooms $3,497 $67.25 $139,880

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Paterson

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Paterson has 9 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,610 in 07505 to $2,100 in 07513.

None is above the fair market rent for Passaic County ($2,282).

  • 07501 $1,970$2,390
  • 07502 $1,990$2,420
  • 07503 $2,100$2,550
  • 07504 $1,910$2,320
  • 07505 $1,610$1,960
  • 07513 $2,100$2,550
  • 07514 $1,950$2,370
  • 07522 $2,000$2,430
  • 07524 $1,880$2,280

A ZIP code counts for Paterson when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Paterson

HUD lists 68 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Paterson. These are the largest.

  • McBride, Masiello and Canfield Devels 255 Atlantic St, Paterson 07503 384 low-income homes · Run by Paterson Housing Authority · Average payment: $394 a month · Average wait: 54 months (973) 345-5650
  • Barnert, Cotton and Griffin Developments 163 Rosa Parks Blvd, Paterson 07501 308 low-income homes · Run by Paterson Housing Authority · Average payment: $388 a month · Average wait: 53 months (973) 345-5650
  • Riverview Towers I 150 Presidential Blvd, Paterson 07522 376 homes, 304 low-income · For families
  • Riverview Towers II 125 Presidential Blvd, Paterson 07522 376 homes, 304 low-income · For families
  • Colt Arms 52 Godwin St, Paterson 207 homes, 200 low-income

See all 109 buildings in Passaic County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Paterson

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Passaic County; none says it serves in Spanish.

An older woman smiles in front of her apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Paterson

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Paterson or Passaic County. The ones below are statewide in New Jersey: they work in Paterson the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in New Jersey

Housing counselors near Paterson

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Paterson, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Paterson Task Force for Community Action, Inc

    191 Market St, Paterson · 0 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    973-279-2333-135

  • Housing Authority of the City of Paterson

    60 Van Houten St, Paterson · 1 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (973) 345-5085

  • Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey

    131 Main St Ste 140, Hackensack · 7 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 2 more
    (201) 489-3552

Every agency in Passaic County All counseling agencies in New Jersey

Help in Spanish near Paterson

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Paterson

HUD’s record names them for Paterson or Passaic County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Paterson Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (973) 345-5650
  • Passaic County Public Housing Agency Section 8 vouchers (973) 881-4370

2 other authorities have an office in Passaic County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Passaic County

These cities are also in Passaic County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Passaic County Housing in New Jersey
See 2 more cities in Passaic County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Paterson, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Passaic County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Paterson.

All guides
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about Paterson

Short answers with the numbers for Paterson and all of Passaic County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Paterson?

The typical home value in Paterson is $360,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Passaic County it is $459,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Paterson?

Typical rent in Paterson is $1,548 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Passaic County is $2,282.

What is the FHA loan limit in Paterson?

Paterson uses the FHA limit for all of Passaic County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Paterson?

The typical homeowner in Paterson pays $10,001 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.78% of the home’s value; in Passaic County, the rate is 2.18%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Paterson?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Passaic County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).