Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Glendale, CA
🏆 Clifton leads 13 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Glendale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $564k less ($428,000 vs $992,000)
42% less violent crime than Glendale
Rent averages $369/mo less ($1,633 vs $2,002)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.4%)
Households earn $12,960 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Glendale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Clifton by $12,960/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clifton
Median Income
$12,960
$94,179 vs $81,219/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
42% lower
165.8 vs 287.2 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$564k less
$428,000 vs $992,000
Clifton
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Glendale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $992,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $81,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Glendale Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 194,512 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 41.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Glendale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clifton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 13 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 13 and Glendale 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $992,000 median home), income ($94,179 vs $81,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Glendale, CA are about 2,433 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.