Clifton is a small town of 448 in Kansas, with a median household income of $51,563
and a 0.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 79 (US average = 100), which is
21% below the national average.
Strengths:
Clifton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Clifton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Clifton city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 78.8
Clifton's overall cost of living index is 78.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Clifton costs roughly 21% less than the average American city.
Metric
Clifton, KS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$67,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$340
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
83.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,563
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Clifton's violent crime rate is 203.5 per 100,000 residents
— 46% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
203.5 /100k
Property Crime
314.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Clifton is served primarily by Clifton-Clyde.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Clifton, KS
National Avg
School District
Clifton-Clyde
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Clifton sees average highs of 38.7°F in January
and 91.1°F in July,
with 31.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 16.7 inches of snow per year.
Clifton's cost of living index is 79, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Clifton roughly 21% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $67,700 and median rent is $340/month.
Clifton's violent crime rate is 203.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 314.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Clifton are operated by Clifton-Clyde.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.0:1. 20.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Clifton, KS has a population of 448, a median household income of $51,563, and an unemployment rate of 0.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Clifton averages 38.7°F in January and 91.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.0 inches
with about 16.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Clifton, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 66937.
The population of Clifton, Kansas is 448 with a median age of 43.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Clifton: cost of living index 79 (100 = US average), median home $67,700, median household income $51,563, crime index 38 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clifton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.