Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Clifton leads 12 of 22 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
Denver
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
83% less violent crime than Denver
Homes cost $112k less ($428,000 vs $540,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,326 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Denver
Denver, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Clifton by $8,326/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$8,326
$94,179 vs $85,853/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
83% lower
165.8 vs 993.0 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$112k less
$428,000 vs $540,400
Denver
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.4% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $85,853 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 20.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 247⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 15.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Denver is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clifton leads 12 of 22 categories. Clifton wins 12 and Denver wins 10. 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 Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $540,400 median home), income ($94,179 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Denver, CO are about 1,612 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.