Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Goodyear, AZ
🏆 Goodyear leads 17 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Goodyear
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
97,542 ✓ 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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Rent averages $78/mo less ($1,633 vs $1,711)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Goodyear
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.5%)
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Homes cost $32k less ($396,100 vs $428,000)
Households earn $3,128 more per year on average
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Violent Crime
9% lower
165.8 vs 182.2 per 100k
Goodyear
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Median Income
$3,128
$97,307 vs $94,179/yr
Goodyear
Median Home Value
$32k less
$396,100 vs $428,000
Goodyear
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.4% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
20.9°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Goodyear, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 | $97,307 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Incito Schools (91326) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 97,542 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Goodyear's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 17 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 6 and Goodyear wins 17. 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 Goodyear or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $396,100 median home), income ($94,179 vs $97,307), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Goodyear, AZ are about 2,153 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.