Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 13 of 23 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
Lafayette
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
84% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $35,329 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
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 26% higher than Lafayette
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($234,900 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $611/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,633)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $35,329/yr
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$35,329
$94,179 vs $58,850/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
84% lower
165.8 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Lafayette
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$193k less
$234,900 vs $428,000
Lafayette
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 121,706 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 13 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 10 and Lafayette wins 13. 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 Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $234,900 median home), income ($94,179 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Lafayette, LA are about 1,241 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.