Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 16 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Roseville
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
148,879 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($428,000 vs $596,700)
24% less violent crime than Roseville
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $307/mo less ($1,633 vs $1,940)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $18,086/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Roseville
Roseville, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Households earn $18,086 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 39°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Violent Crime
24% lower
165.8 vs 219.2 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$169k less
$428,000 vs $596,700
Roseville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Roseville
Median Income
$18,086
$112,265 vs $94,179/yr
Roseville
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.4% unemployment
Roseville
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 148,879 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 39.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 17.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Roseville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 16 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 7 and Roseville wins 16. 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $596,700 median home), income ($94,179 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Roseville, CA are about 2,477 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.