Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Clifton, NJ
🏆 Clifton leads 15 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Clifton
New Jersey
15
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.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($123,000 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $638/mo less ($995 vs $1,633)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $51,715/yr
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.4%)
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $51,715 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Birmingham
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.4%)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Birmingham
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$305k less
$123,000 vs $428,000
Birmingham
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 86.5°F
Clifton
Median Income
$51,715
$94,179 vs $42,464/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
87% lower
165.8 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Clifton
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Clifton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $428,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,633⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $94,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 34.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Clifton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 50.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 89,451 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Clifton's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 15 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 8 and Clifton wins 15. 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 Birmingham to Clifton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $428,000 median home), income ($42,464 vs $94,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Clifton, NJ are about 859 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.