Median Income
$56,500
household / year
Median Home Value
$99,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$964
gross / month
Cost of Living
91
national avg = 100

Is Clifton, TX a Good Place to Live?

Clifton is a small town of 3,487 in Texas, with a median household income of $56,500 and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Clifton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 91.2

Clifton's overall cost of living index is 91.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Clifton costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric Clifton, TX National Avg
Median Home Value $99,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $964 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 66.9% 65.9%
Median Household Income $56,500 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Clifton's violent crime rate is 28.1 per 100,000 residents — 93% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
28.1 /100k
Property Crime
225.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Clifton is served primarily by CLIFTON ISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Clifton, TX National Avg
School District CLIFTON ISD
Elementary Schools 1
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 12.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 23.1% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 82.7% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Clifton sees average highs of 57.0°F in January and 95.4°F in July, with 38.0 inches of annual precipitation .

MetricClifton, TX
Average High — January57.0°F
Average High — July95.4°F
Annual Precipitation38.0"
Annual SnowfallTrace / None

Demographics

MetricClifton, TXNational Avg
Population3,487
Median Age48.938.9
Unemployment Rate5.2%3.7%
Avg Commute Time19.8 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)72.9%59.3%
Black or African American2.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino24.0%18.9%
Asian0.7%6.3%
Under 1819.1%22.2%
65 and over28.4%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Clifton vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Clifton's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Clifton roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $99,500 and median rent is $964/month.
Clifton's violent crime rate is 28.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 225.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Clifton are operated by CLIFTON ISD. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1. 23.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Clifton, TX has a population of 3,487, a median household income of $56,500, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. 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 57.0°F in January and 95.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.0 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Clifton, Texas is 3,487 with a median age of 48.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Clifton: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $99,500, median household income $56,500, crime index 9 (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.