Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Clifton leads 17 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Kent
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
66% less violent crime than Kent
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.4%)
Homes cost $50k less ($428,000 vs $478,400)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,213 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Kent, WA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 87°F
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Clifton
Median Income
$7,213
$94,179 vs $86,966/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
66% lower
165.8 vs 489.7 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$50k less
$428,000 vs $478,400
Clifton
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Clifton
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $86,966 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 135,169 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Clifton is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 17 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 17 and Kent wins 6. 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $478,400 median home), income ($94,179 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Kent, WA are about 2,386 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.