Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Clifton leads 12 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Pasadena
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $554k less ($428,000 vs $981,600)
65% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $467/mo less ($1,633 vs $2,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 5.2%)
Median income trails Pasadena by $3,639/yr
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Households earn $3,639 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clifton
Violent Crime
65% lower
165.8 vs 480.4 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$554k less
$428,000 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Median Income
$3,639
$97,818 vs $94,179/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 39.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clifton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 12 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 12 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $981,600 median home), income ($94,179 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Pasadena, CA are about 2,428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.