Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Columbia, SC
🏆 Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Columbia
South Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $40,084 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Columbia
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Columbia
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $202k less ($226,200 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $528/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,633)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $40,084/yr
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$40,084
$94,179 vs $54,095/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
78% lower
165.8 vs 769.9 per 100k
Clifton
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Columbia
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$202k less
$226,200 vs $428,000
Columbia
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Columbia, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,105 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $54,095 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 154⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Richland 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 48.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 136,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 28.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Columbia's 92.9 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 10 and Columbia 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 Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $226,200 median home), income ($94,179 vs $54,095), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Columbia, SC are about 599 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.