Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Clifton leads 13 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Lancaster
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
80% less violent crime than Lancaster
Households earn $22,812 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.4%)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($368,800 vs $428,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Clifton by $22,812/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clifton
Median Income
$22,812
$94,179 vs $71,367/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
80% lower
165.8 vs 834.7 per 100k
Clifton
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$59k less
$368,800 vs $428,000
Lancaster
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 8.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 57.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clifton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 13 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 13 and Lancaster wins 10. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $368,800 median home), income ($94,179 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Lancaster, CA are about 2,415 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.