Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Clifton leads 13 of 22 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
Elizabeth
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $34,240 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $70k less ($358,400 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $243/mo less ($1,390 vs $1,633)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $34,240/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$34,240
$94,179 vs $59,939/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
59% lower
165.8 vs 408.7 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$70k less
$358,400 vs $428,000
Elizabeth
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 135,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clifton leads 13 of 22 categories. Clifton wins 13 and Elizabeth wins 9. 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 Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $358,400 median home), income ($94,179 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ are about 14 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.