Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Dearborn, MI
🏆 Clifton leads 12 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Dearborn
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
108,414 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $29,579 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Dearborn
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°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 15% higher than Dearborn
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $239k less ($189,400 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $428/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,633)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $29,579/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$29,579
$94,179 vs $64,600/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
43% lower
165.8 vs 292.6 per 100k
Dearborn
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$239k less
$189,400 vs $428,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Dearborn, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $189,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,205 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $64,600 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 85.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Dearborn City School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 35.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 30.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 108,414 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 69.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 28.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Dearborn's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 12 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 12 and Dearborn wins 11. 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 Dearborn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $189,400 median home), income ($94,179 vs $64,600), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Dearborn, MI are about 478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.