Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Fayetteville, AR
🏆 Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Fayetteville
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $37,298 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fayetteville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $689/mo less ($944 vs $1,633)
Homes cost $137k less ($291,300 vs $428,000)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $37,298/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$37,298
$94,179 vs $56,881/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
61% lower
165.8 vs 423.7 per 100k
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$137k less
$291,300 vs $428,000
Fayetteville
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Fayetteville, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $944 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $56,881 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 12.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 95.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 46.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 6.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 95,022 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Fayetteville's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 14 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 9 and Fayetteville wins 14. 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 Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $291,300 median home), income ($94,179 vs $56,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Fayetteville, AR are about 1,129 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.