Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Clifton, NJ
🏆 Clifton leads 14 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Clifton
New Jersey
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
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.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 39°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $286k less ($428,000 vs $713,600)
72% less violent crime than Anaheim
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $325/mo less ($1,633 vs $1,958)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,641 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.4% unemployment
Clifton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clifton
Median Income
$5,641
$94,179 vs $88,538/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
72% lower
165.8 vs 596.2 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$286k less
$428,000 vs $713,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Clifton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 | $94,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 34.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Clifton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 50.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 89,451 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Clifton's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Clifton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 14 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 9 and Clifton wins 14. 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 Anaheim to Clifton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $428,000 median home), income ($88,538 vs $94,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Clifton, NJ are about 2,417 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.