Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln 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
Lincoln
Nebraska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
52% less violent crime than Lincoln
Households earn $26,333 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 21% higher than Lincoln
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($230,400 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $635/mo less ($998 vs $1,633)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.3%)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $26,333/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$26,333
$94,179 vs $67,846/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
52% lower
165.8 vs 347.9 per 100k
Lincoln
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$198k less
$230,400 vs $428,000
Lincoln
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $230,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $67,846 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 26.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 13 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 10 and Lincoln 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 Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $230,400 median home), income ($94,179 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Lincoln, NE are about 1,174 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.