Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Clifton leads 16 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Lynn
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
71% less violent crime than Lynn
Households earn $24,133 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.7%)
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Lynn, MA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.7%)
Rent averages $122/mo less ($1,511 vs $1,633)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $24,133/yr
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$24,133
$94,179 vs $70,046/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
71% lower
165.8 vs 574.6 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$15k less
$428,000 vs $442,800
Clifton
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 80.3°F
Lynn
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lynn
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $442,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $70,046 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 47.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 100,653 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 48.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Lynn is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 16 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 16 and Lynn wins 7. 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $442,800 median home), income ($94,179 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Lynn, MA are about 199 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.