Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Clifton, NJ
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Clifton
New Jersey
9
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $43,208 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $405k less ($428,000 vs $833,300)
35% less violent crime than Arlington
Rent averages $594/mo less ($1,633 vs $2,227)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $43,208/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 2.8%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$43,208
$137,387 vs $94,179/yr
Arlington
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.4% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 86.5°F
Clifton
Violent Crime
35% lower
165.8 vs 254.4 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$405k less
$428,000 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, 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 | $833,300⚠ High | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $94,179 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 34.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County 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 | 47.2" ✓ Drier | 50.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 89,451 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Clifton's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 14 and Clifton wins 9. 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 Arlington to Clifton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $428,000 median home), income ($137,387 vs $94,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Clifton, NJ are about 208 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.