Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Clifton leads 11 of 20 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
89,451
Jackson
Mississippi
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $51,986 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 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 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Jackson
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $323k less ($104,900 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $653/mo less ($980 vs $1,633)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $51,986/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$51,986
$94,179 vs $42,193/yr
Clifton
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
6.4% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$323k less
$104,900 vs $428,000
Jackson
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 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) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Clifton leads 11 of 20 categories. Clifton wins 11 and Jackson wins 9. 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 Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $104,900 median home), income ($94,179 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Jackson, MS are about 1,066 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.