Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 Orlando leads 13 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Orlando
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
80% less violent crime than Orlando
Households earn $27,887 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Orlando
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.2%)
Orlando, FL
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($332,700 vs $428,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 39°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.2%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $124/mo less ($1,509 vs $1,633)
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $27,887/yr
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$27,887
$94,179 vs $66,292/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
80% lower
165.8 vs 835.8 per 100k
Orlando
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Median Home Value
$95k less
$332,700 vs $428,000
Orlando
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.4% unemployment
Orlando
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $332,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,509⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $66,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 307,738 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orlando leads 13 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 10 and Orlando wins 13. 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $332,700 median home), income ($94,179 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Orlando, FL are about 949 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.