Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Clifton, NJ
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Clifton
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $19,000 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($428,000 vs $655,700)
24% less violent crime than Alexandria
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $350/mo less ($1,633 vs $1,983)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $19,000/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Alexandria
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$19,000
$113,179 vs $94,179/yr
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.4% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 86.5°F
Clifton
Violent Crime
24% lower
165.8 vs 219.1 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$228k less
$428,000 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Clifton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $94,179 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 34.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Clifton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 50.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 89,451 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Clifton's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Alexandria wins 11 and Clifton wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Clifton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $428,000 median home), income ($113,179 vs $94,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Clifton, NJ are about 210 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.