Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 18 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
89,451
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $209k less ($428,000 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $720/mo less ($1,633 vs $2,353)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $54,048/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $54,048 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Clifton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Home Value
$209k less
$428,000 vs $637,400
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$54,048
$148,227 vs $94,179/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
17% lower
138.1 vs 165.8 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 101,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 18 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 5 and Highlands Ranch wins 18. 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $637,400 median home), income ($94,179 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 1,620 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.