Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
College Station, TX
🏆 College Station leads 16 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
College Station
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $41,782 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
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
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Cost of living runs 22% higher than College Station
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
College Station, TX
Pros
Rent averages $504/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,633)
Homes cost $122k less ($305,800 vs $428,000)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $41,782/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$41,782
$94,179 vs $52,397/yr
College Station
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Median Home Value
$122k less
$305,800 vs $428,000
College Station
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.4% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | College Station, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,129 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $52,397 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 45 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (129) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | COLLEGE STATION ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 46.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 120,451 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 22.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 6.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs College Station's 90.7 (US average = 100).
College Station is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 16 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 7 and College Station wins 16. 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 Clifton to College Station or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $305,800 median home), income ($94,179 vs $52,397), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and College Station, TX are about 1,424 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.