Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Jersey City leads 11 of 21 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Jersey City
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
70% less violent crime than Jersey City
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $72k less ($428,000 vs $500,100)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $166/mo less ($1,633 vs $1,799)
Households earn $3,028 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.8%)
Cons
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$3,028
$94,179 vs $91,151/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
70% lower
165.8 vs 561.6 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$72k less
$428,000 vs $500,100
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 112.5 on the COL index
Jersey City
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $91,151 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Jersey City leads 11 of 21 categories. Clifton wins 10 and Jersey City wins 11. 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $500,100 median home), income ($94,179 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Jersey City, NJ are about 12 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.