Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Clifton, NJ
🏆 Carrollton leads 20 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284 ✓ Larger
Clifton
New Jersey
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
89,451
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
17% less violent crime than Clifton
Homes cost $101k less ($327,300 vs $428,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Carrollton
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Carrollton
Median Income
$1,201
$95,380 vs $94,179/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
17% lower
137.1 vs 165.8 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$101k less
$327,300 vs $428,000
Carrollton
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.4% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Clifton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $428,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,633⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $94,179 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 44 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 34.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Clifton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 50.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 ✓ Larger | 89,451 |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Clifton's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Carrollton is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 20 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 20 and Clifton wins 3. 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 Carrollton to Clifton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $428,000 median home), income ($95,380 vs $94,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Clifton, NJ are about 1,364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.