Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Elgin, IL
🏆 Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Elgin
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,998
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
114,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
38% less violent crime than Elgin
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,181 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 30°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Elgin
Elgin, IL
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($242,500 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $443/mo less ($1,190 vs $1,633)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $8,181/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$8,181
$94,179 vs $85,998/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
38% lower
165.8 vs 266.7 per 100k
Elgin
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Elgin
Median Home Value
$186k less
$242,500 vs $428,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Elgin, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $242,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,190 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $85,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | SD U-46 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 30.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 39.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 32.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 114,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 71.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 26.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Elgin's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Elgin is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 12 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 11 and Elgin wins 12. 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 Elgin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $242,500 median home), income ($94,179 vs $85,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Elgin, IL are about 737 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.