Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
89,451
Naperville
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $55k less ($428,000 vs $482,600)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $154/mo less ($1,633 vs $1,787)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 33°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $49,575/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Naperville
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $49,575 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Clifton
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.5%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Home Value
$55k less
$428,000 vs $482,600
Naperville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$49,575
$143,754 vs $94,179/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
50% lower
83.7 vs 165.8 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 24.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 39.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 8 and Naperville wins 15. 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 Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $482,600 median home), income ($94,179 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Naperville, IL are about 729 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.