--- title: Life Insurance in Paterson, NJ: Free Quotes and Local Facts url: https://coverfolk.com/states/new-jersey/paterson updated: 2026-10-08 --- # Life insurance in Paterson, NJ Get a free price from a New Jersey agent, and see what families in Paterson usually need. [Local facts](#local) Updated October 8, 2026[Fact checked](/editorial-standards) Paterson160,446 people The short answer Families in Paterson earn a median $60,703 a year, and the typical owned home is worth $387,400. A simple rule puts the need for a typical family here at about **$850,000**. Term life is usually the lowest cost way to get there. ## Paterson by the numbers Median household income : $60,703Lower than the New Jersey median of $104,294 Typical home value : $387,400Lower than the New Jersey median of $496,000 Homes owned : 32%n/a of owned homes have a mortgage Households with kids : 43%48,639 households in all Age 65 and older : 14%Median age 33.5 Veterans : 1,8041.6% of adults ## Living in Paterson Paterson is the 3rd largest city in New Jersey, with 160,446 residents and a median age of 33.5. That is younger than the state as a whole, so more families here are in the years when term life matters most. The median household here earns $60,703, below the US median of $81,604. The typical home costs about 6.4 times that income, a heavy load for one paycheck to carry alone. Compared with nearby Newark (13 miles away), homes in Paterson are worth about the same ($387,400 vs $396,600), and more households have kids at home. The biggest hands on job group here is driving and moving goods, at 18.2% of workers. Drivers who switch carriers often lose their work coverage, so a policy they own matters. ## Who works in Paterson The biggest groups of hands on and front line jobs here, as a share of all workers. Some of these jobs can change your price, and some companies treat them better than others. **Driving and moving goods**18.2%[Truck drivers](/jobs/truck-drivers)[Rideshare and delivery](/jobs/rideshare-drivers)[Warehouse workers](/jobs/warehouse-workers) **Factory and production**11.7%[Factory workers](/jobs/factory-workers)[Welders](/jobs/welders) **Sales**10%[Real estate agents](/jobs/real-estate-agents)[Self employed](/jobs/self-employed) **Health care**9.6%[Nurses](/jobs/nurses)[EMTs and paramedics](/jobs/emts-paramedics)[Doctors](/jobs/doctors) ## What fits families in Paterson **Term life for parents** 43% of households here have kids under 18. Term life covers the years they depend on you for the lowest price. [More on term life](/coverage/term-life) **Final expense** 14% of people in Paterson are 65 or older, lower than the New Jersey rate. A small policy keeps funeral costs off the family. [More on final expense](/coverage/final-expense) **Veterans** About 1,804 veterans live in Paterson. VGLI is not your only choice. [More on veterans](/jobs/veterans) ## Final expense and burial insurance in Paterson About 21,700 people in Paterson are 65 or older. A small final expense policy, also called burial insurance, pays for the funeral so the family does not have to. | Age | Women, $10,000 | Men, $10,000 | | --- | --- | --- | | **60** | $33 | $43 | | **70** | $53 | $70 | | **80** | $98 | $134 | National sample rates, Choice Mutual, Rates valid as of March 9, 2026. Not a quote. [Funeral costs and help in New Jersey](/funeral-costs/new-jersey) ## New Jersey rules that protect you * Free look: 10 days to return a new policy for a refund * Grace period: 30 days if you miss a payment * Guaranty protection: up to $500,000 in death benefits * Help line: New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, 1-800-446-7467 [All New Jersey rules](/states/new-jersey) ## Common questions in Paterson How much life insurance do I need in Paterson? A quick rule of thumb: 10 years of income plus what you owe on your home. With Paterson's median household income of $60,703 and a typical home value of $387,400, that lands near $850,000 for a typical family. Your number depends on your debts, kids and savings. Our calculator does the math. Can I get life insurance in Paterson without a medical exam? Often, yes. Many companies approve healthy people with health questions and records instead of an exam. Older buyers can also look at simplified issue or guaranteed issue final expense plans. Do I need an agent licensed in New Jersey? Yes. An agent must hold a New Jersey license to sell you a policy. You can check a license with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance at 1-800-446-7467. Source: [New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance](https://www.nj.gov/dobi) What does a funeral cost near Paterson? Local prices vary by funeral home. Nationally, the median funeral with viewing and burial was $8,300 in 2023, and $6,280 with cremation (NFDA). Under the FTC Funeral Rule, any funeral home in Paterson must give you an itemized price list. Source: [FTC Funeral Rule](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/ftc-funeral-rule) · [NFDA price study](https://content.nfda.org/news/media-center/nfda-news-releases/id/8134/2023-nfda-general-price-list-study-shows-inflation-increasing-faster-than-the-cost-of-a-funeral) What happens if my insurance company fails in New Jersey? The New Jersey Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association protects New Jersey policyholders up to $500,000 in death benefits, per insured person. Source: [New Jersey Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association](https://www.njlifega.org) · [NOLHGA: how you are protected](https://nolhga.com/policyholders/how-youre-protected/) ## Near Paterson [Newark](/states/new-jersey/newark) (13 mi), [Jersey City](/states/new-jersey/jersey-city) (15 mi), [Elizabeth](/states/new-jersey/elizabeth) (17 mi) ## Sources 1. [Census ACS 2024 1 year estimates, table based summary file](https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/) 2. [Census 2024 Gazetteer place file](https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html) 3. [2023 NFDA General Price List Study Shows Inflation Increasing Faster than the Cost of a Funeral (NFDA)](https://content.nfda.org/news/media-center/nfda-news-releases/id/8134/2023-nfda-general-price-list-study-shows-inflation-increasing-faster-than-the-cost-of-a-funeral) 4. [New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance](https://www.nj.gov/dobi) 5. [New Jersey Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association](https://www.njlifega.org) Local numbers are Census American Community Survey 2024 one year estimates for Paterson, NJ. The coverage figure is a rule of thumb, not advice.