Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Clifton leads 12 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Norfolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
65% less violent crime than Norfolk
Households earn $33,181 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Norfolk
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($254,200 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $445/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,633)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $33,181/yr
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$33,181
$94,179 vs $60,998/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
65% lower
165.8 vs 469.5 per 100k
Norfolk
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$174k less
$254,200 vs $428,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 45.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 12 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 12 and Norfolk wins 11. 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 Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $254,200 median home), income ($94,179 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Norfolk, VA are about 294 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.