Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Clifton, NJ
🏆 Clifton leads 13 of 22 categories
Berkeley
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385 ✓ Larger
Clifton
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Households earn $10,537 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $852k less ($428,000 vs $1,280,300)
74% less violent crime than Berkeley
Rent averages $434/mo less ($1,633 vs $2,067)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Median income trails Berkeley by $10,537/yr
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$10,537
$104,716 vs $94,179/yr
Berkeley
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.4% unemployment
Clifton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Clifton
Violent Crime
74% lower
165.8 vs 638.8 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$852k less
$428,000 vs $1,280,300
Clifton
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Clifton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $94,179 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 34.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Clifton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 50.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 ✓ Larger | 89,451 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Clifton's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Clifton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clifton leads 13 of 22 categories. Berkeley wins 9 and Clifton wins 13. 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 Berkeley to Clifton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $428,000 median home), income ($104,716 vs $94,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Clifton, NJ are about 2,547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.