Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Clifton leads 13 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Providence
Rhode Island
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $32,814 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Providence
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.4%)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Providence
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($293,000 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $419/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,633)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $32,814/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$32,814
$94,179 vs $61,365/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
40% lower
165.8 vs 276.7 per 100k
Clifton
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
Providence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Median Home Value
$135k less
$293,000 vs $428,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 47.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 13 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 13 and Providence wins 10. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $293,000 median home), income ($94,179 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Providence, RI are about 157 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.