Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 18 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
89,451
New Braunfels
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993 ✓ 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)
Households earn $8,352 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Cost of living runs 19% higher than New Braunfels
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($290,800 vs $428,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.8%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $207/mo less ($1,426 vs $1,633)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $8,352/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$8,352
$94,179 vs $85,827/yr
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$137k less
$290,800 vs $428,000
New Braunfels
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.4% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $290,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,426⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $85,827 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 38.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 35.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 92,993 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 18 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 5 and New Braunfels wins 18. 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $290,800 median home), income ($94,179 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and New Braunfels, TX are about 1,548 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.