Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Concord, NC
🏆 Concord leads 18 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
89,451
Concord
North Carolina
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,699 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Concord
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Concord, NC
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($288,100 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $374/mo less ($1,259 vs $1,633)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.7%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $10,699/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$10,699
$94,179 vs $83,480/yr
Concord
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Concord
Median Home Value
$140k less
$288,100 vs $428,000
Concord
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.4% unemployment
Concord
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Concord, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $288,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,259 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $83,480 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 40.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Cabarrus County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 47.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 3.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 105,335 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 69.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Concord's 97.0 (US average = 100).
Concord is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 18 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 5 and Concord wins 18. 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 Concord or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $288,100 median home), income ($94,179 vs $83,480), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Concord, NC are about 516 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.