Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
89,451
Germantown
Maryland
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $275/mo less ($1,633 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $15,089/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.2%)
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Germantown, MD
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $15,089 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $34k less ($393,700 vs $428,000)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Germantown
Median Income
$15,089
$109,268 vs $94,179/yr
Germantown
Median Home Value
$34k less
$393,700 vs $428,000
Germantown
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,908⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 46.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 32.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 90,210 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Germantown is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories. Clifton wins 8 and Germantown 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 Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $393,700 median home), income ($94,179 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Germantown, MD are about 201 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.