Paterson, NJ vs San Marcos, CA

San Marcos is safer with a higher safety score by 20 points. Paterson, NJ has a safety score of 57/100 while San Marcos, CA has 77/100, based on FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Paterson, NJ has a violent crime rate of 978.6 per 100,000 residents, while San Marcos, CA has 222.4 per 100,000. Lower rates indicate safer communities. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Paterson, NJ has a property crime rate of 2351.1 per 100,000, compared to 659.8 per 100,000 in San Marcos, CA. Property crimes include burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft.

Safety scores range from 0-100, combining violent crime rates, property crime rates, and population data from the FBI UCR. Higher scores mean safer cities. Grades: A (80+), B (70-79), C (60-69), D (50-59), F (below 50).

Based on crime data alone, San Marcos is safer. However, safety is just one factor — also consider cost of living, job market, schools, and quality of life. Visit our city pages for more details on each.