City · New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, city, in Passaic County, New Jersey. Paterson had 161,793 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 159,732 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 158,735 (±87). GEOID 3457000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
161,793
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 159,732 · ACS 2020-2024: 158,735 ±87
Median household income
$55,997
±$3,427 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $103,556
Median home value
$360,100
±$11,010 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $454,400
Median gross rent
$1,548
±$25 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $1,720
Where is Paterson and what county is it in?
Paterson is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey. It covers 8.4 square miles of land, 18,986 residents per square mile in 2020.
Paterson is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Paterson, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 161,793 people lived in Paterson on July 1, 2025, up 1.3% since 2020, slower than New Jersey (+2.8%). The 2020 Census counted 159,732 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 158,735 (±87).
| Measure | Paterson | Passaic County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 158,735 ±87 | 521,012 | +13,025 |
| Households | 49,865 ±989 | 178,936 | +4,819 |
| Average household size | 3.15 ±0.06 | 2.86 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 52,519 ±915 | 185,816 | +2,795 |
Paterson's population since 2000
From 149,222 in 2000 to 161,793 in 2025: up 8.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Paterson as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Paterson?
The median resident of Paterson is 33.3 years old; 27.7% are under 18 and 12.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 64.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 22.1%. 44.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Paterson | Passaic County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.3 ±0.6 | 38.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.7% ±0.7 pts | 23.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.2% ±0.5 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Male | 49.2% ±0.7 pts | 49.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 64.5% ±1.4 pts | 44.3% | +3.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 7.8% ±0.8 pts | 37.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 22.1% ±1.1 pts | 9.7% | −2.7 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.1% ±0.6 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.3 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 44.6% ±1.4 pts | 33.1% | +4.0 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 67.3% ±1.4 pts | 51.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 1.4% ±0.4 pts | 2.7% | – |
| With a disability | 9.2% ±0.7 pts | 9.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 19.5% ±1.3 pts | 12.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 74.2% ±1.4 pts | 84.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 11.8% ±1.0 pts | 30.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.0% ±0.5 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.0% ±1.2 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 1.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Paterson earn?
Half of Paterson's 49,865 households earn less than $55,997 a year (±$3,427), against $87,522 in Passaic County and $103,556 in New Jersey. In 2015-2019 the median was $50,902 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $5,096 after inflation. 21.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Paterson | Passaic County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,997 ±$3,427 | $87,522 | +$5,096 |
| Mean household income | $76,043 ±$2,923 | $117,469 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,403 ±$836 | $40,703 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 21.2% ±1.7 pts | 13.0% | −5.4 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 29.4% ±3.1 pts | 19.3% | −8.2 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 36.2% ±1.7 pts | 19.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.0% ±1.1 pts | 95.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.3% ±1.3 pts | 92.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Paterson?
Owners occupy 26.9% of Paterson's occupied homes and renters 73.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $360,100 by its owner (±$11,010). The median renter pays $1,548 a month including utilities, and 50.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Paterson | Passaic County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $360,100 ±$11,010 | $459,500 | +$59,565 |
| Median gross rent | $1,548 ±$25 | $1,621 | +$80 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 50.8% ±2.5 pts | 48.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,643 ±$110 | $3,014 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 26.9% ±1.6 pts | 53.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 73.1% ±1.6 pts | 46.9% | – |
| Housing units | 52,519 ±915 | 185,816 | +2,795 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.2% ±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.4% ±0.6 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 15.9% ±1.3 pts | 41.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.0% ±0.9 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 32.7% ±1.8 pts | 28.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 26.1% ±1.9 pts | 13.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Paterson building?
Builders took permits for 277 new housing units in Paterson in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 1.7 per 1,000 residents against 2.9 across New Jersey.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Paterson work and get to work?
61.3% of Paterson's workers drive alone and 5.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 10.7%.
| Measure | Paterson | Passaic County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.7% ±1.2 pts | 66.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 10.7% ±1.0 pts | 8.0% | +5.9 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 61.3% ±1.9 pts | 65.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 17.9% ±1.4 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 7.4% ±1.1 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Walked | 6.0% ±0.9 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.2% ±0.8 pts | 11.5% | +2.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.6 min ±0.8 | 26.5 min | −2.0 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Paterson?
40 census tracts lie mostly in Paterson (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $19,347 (Tract 1828) to $114,375 (Tract 1801.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1823.02Passaic County | 6,435 | $51,467 |
| Tract 1813Passaic County | 6,338 | $57,781 |
| Tract 1826Passaic County | 6,134 | $81,851 |
| Tract 1824Passaic County | 5,944 | $71,195 |
| Tract 1810Passaic County | 5,705 | $73,984 |
| Tract 1831.02Passaic County | 5,152 | $93,563 |
| Tract 1806Passaic County | 4,904 | $41,053 |
| Tract 1819Passaic County | 4,856 | $84,397 |
| Tract 1801.01Passaic County | 4,749 | $95,238 |
| Tract 2642Passaic County | 4,699 | $33,590 |
| Tract 1812Passaic County | 4,505 | $75,339 |
| Tract 1825.01Passaic County | 4,444 | $60,000 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Paterson) · Census block assignment files
How does Paterson compare with other places in New Jersey?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Paterson is the 165th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 3rd-most populous of 323 in New Jersey.
Paterson ranks 741st of 771 places in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 3rd | 323 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 350th | 532 |
| Residents per square mile | 11th | 787 |
| Median household income | 741st | 771 |
| Per capita income | 768th | 785 |
| Median home value | 536th | 777 |
| Median gross rent | 511th | 701 |
| Poverty rate | 26th | 539 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 769th | 780 |
| Median age | 756th | 786 |
| Owner-occupied share | 767th | 777 |
| Work from home | 687th | 695 |
| Travel time to work | 738th | 787 |
Paterson's figures with every place in New Jersey (CSV)
Every place in New Jersey, sortable · Compare Paterson with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Paterson?
4 of the 57 figures for Paterson on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Paterson are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Paterson.