Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Clifton, NJ
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 15 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672 ✓ Larger
Clifton
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($242,300 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $588/mo less ($1,045 vs $1,633)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $46,381/yr
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $46,381 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Athens-Clarke County
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$186k less
$242,300 vs $428,000
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.4% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 86.5°F
Clifton
Median Income
$46,381
$94,179 vs $47,798/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
59% lower
165.8 vs 406.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Clifton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $428,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $1,633⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $94,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 11.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 34.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Clifton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 50.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 ✓ Larger | 89,451 |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Clifton's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 15 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 15 and Clifton wins 8. 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 Athens-Clarke County to Clifton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $428,000 median home), income ($47,798 vs $94,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Clifton, NJ are about 695 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.