Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Colorado Springs, CO
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 13 of 22 categories
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
Colorado Springs
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
77% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,153 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Colorado Springs
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Homes cost $45k less ($383,000 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $169/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,633)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Clifton by $15,153/yr
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$15,153
$94,179 vs $79,026/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
77% lower
165.8 vs 715.6 per 100k
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$45k less
$383,000 vs $428,000
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Colorado Springs, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $79,026 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 179⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 41.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 19.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 55.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 479,612 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Colorado Springs's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 13 of 22 categories. Clifton wins 9 and Colorado Springs wins 13. 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 Colorado Springs or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $383,000 median home), income ($94,179 vs $79,026), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Colorado Springs, CO are about 1,620 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.