Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 18 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Overland Park
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49
Population
196,676 ✓ 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)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Overland Park
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.2%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $255/mo less ($1,378 vs $1,633)
Homes cost $66k less ($361,800 vs $428,000)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Violent Crime
10% lower
165.8 vs 184.4 per 100k
Overland Park
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Median Income
$6,697
$100,876 vs $94,179/yr
Overland Park
Median Home Value
$66k less
$361,800 vs $428,000
Overland Park
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Overland Park, 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 | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,378⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 84 ✓ 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 ✓ Smaller | 13.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 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" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 38.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 18 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 5 and Overland Park 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $361,800 median home), income ($94,179 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Overland Park, KS are about 1,095 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.