Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 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
Fort Wayne
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $35,946 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
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 33°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 23% higher than Fort Wayne
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $276k less ($152,500 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $729/mo less ($904 vs $1,633)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $35,946/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$35,946
$94,179 vs $58,233/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
46% lower
165.8 vs 307.5 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$276k less
$152,500 vs $428,000
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 13 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 13 and Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $152,500 median home), income ($94,179 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Fort Wayne, IN are about 573 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.