Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Clifton leads 12 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Fresno
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
77% less violent crime than Fresno
Households earn $31,178 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (6.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 98°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Fresno, CA
Pros
Rent averages $406/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,633)
Homes cost $106k less ($321,800 vs $428,000)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 39°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $31,178/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$31,178
$94,179 vs $63,001/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
77% lower
165.8 vs 735.5 per 100k
Clifton
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
6.4% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$106k less
$321,800 vs $428,000
Fresno
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 12 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 12 and Fresno wins 11. 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $321,800 median home), income ($94,179 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Fresno, CA are about 2,445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.