Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Clifton, NJ
🏆 Cary leads 19 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Clifton
New Jersey
4
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.
Cary, NC
Pros
57% less violent crime than Clifton
Households earn $31,138 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $49k less ($428,000 vs $477,400)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $31,138/yr
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Cary
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$31,138
$125,317 vs $94,179/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
57% lower
71.0 vs 165.8 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.4% unemployment
Clifton
Median Home Value
$49k less
$428,000 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Clifton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,633⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $94,179 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ 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 (118) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 34.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Clifton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 50.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 89,451 |
| Median Age | 39.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Clifton's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Cary is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 19 of 23 categories. Cary wins 19 and Clifton wins 4. 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 Cary to Clifton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $428,000 median home), income ($125,317 vs $94,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Clifton, NJ are about 432 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.