Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Clifton, NJ
🏆 Chico leads 14 of 23 categories
Chico
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790 ✓ Larger
Clifton
New Jersey
9
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.
Chico, CA
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Rent averages $273/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,633)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $28,247/yr
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Clifton, NJ
Pros
76% less violent crime than Chico
Households earn $28,247 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Chico
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 86.5°F
Clifton
Median Income
$28,247
$94,179 vs $65,932/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
76% lower
165.8 vs 699.2 per 100k
Clifton
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Clifton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $428,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,633⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $94,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 34.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Clifton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 50.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 ✓ Larger | 89,451 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Clifton's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Chico is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chico leads 14 of 23 categories. Chico wins 14 and Clifton wins 9. 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 Chico to Clifton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $428,000 median home), income ($65,932 vs $94,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Clifton, NJ are about 2,481 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.