Paterson
RANK #300 / 996 NAT · #3 / 21 NJ · POP 519,986
1YR FORECAST: +3.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, a significant landmark within Passaic County, showcases the area's industrial past and natural beauty. Located in northeastern New Jersey, Passaic County offers a blend of urban and scenic mountain communities, bordering New York State to the north. Commute times to New York City from towns like Little Falls and Clifton range from 45 to 55 minutes by NJ Transit rail, with major highways also providing access for drivers. The county features over 16,000 acres of open space, including parks, trails, and recreational facilities, with areas like Ramapo Mountain State Forest and Norvin Green State Forest offering extensive outdoor recreation opportunities.
Life in Passaic County offers diverse communities, with many residents owning their homes. The county's economy is supported by various sectors, including healthcare, retail trade, and manufacturing. Immigrants play a role in the local economy, particularly in manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and construction. Recent economic development efforts include revitalization projects in cities like Paterson and Passaic, with investments aimed at commercial and residential improvements. The county also focuses on improving transportation options, including an on-demand microtransit program in Clifton and Passaic, to enhance connectivity for residents.
Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 9.4x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Passaic Eastside Transit-Oriented Development Strategy (Market Street improvements, mixed-use infill, new arena)
City of Passaic
|
$750M | Planned |
|
Sycamore Totowa Data Center
Sycamore
|
$300M | Under Construction |
|
Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Gas-Fired Power Plant
Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission
|
$232M | Under Construction |
|
Dundee Island Park Redevelopment & Pedestrian Rail Bridge Rehabilitation
Passaic County
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 70/100, Passaic County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $84,465 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NJ.
Passaic County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $413,500 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.20 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,484/month on average.
Population and employment in Passaic County are both close to flat — population -0.2% YoY and jobs -0.3%. Home values shifted +3.9% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.1% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Passaic County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.