Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 19 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Olathe
Kansas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
142,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
15% less violent crime than Olathe
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 19% higher than Olathe
Median income trails Olathe by $13,898/yr
Olathe, KS
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($317,900 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $404/mo less ($1,229 vs $1,633)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.2%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Violent Crime
15% lower
165.8 vs 196.0 per 100k
Olathe
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$13,898
$108,077 vs $94,179/yr
Olathe
Median Home Value
$110k less
$317,900 vs $428,000
Olathe
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 16.3% ✓ 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 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 142,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Olathe leads 19 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 4 and Olathe wins 19. 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 Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $317,900 median home), income ($94,179 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Olathe, KS are about 1,101 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.