Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Clifton leads 13 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
76% less violent crime than Des Moines
Households earn $31,801 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 31°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 20% higher than Des Moines
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($170,700 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $638/mo less ($995 vs $1,633)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $31,801/yr
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$31,801
$94,179 vs $62,378/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
76% lower
165.8 vs 703.0 per 100k
Des Moines
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$257k less
$170,700 vs $428,000
Des Moines
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $62,378 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 13 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 13 and Des Moines 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 Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $170,700 median home), income ($94,179 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Des Moines, IA are about 1,010 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.