Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 12 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Sacramento
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
78% less violent crime than Sacramento
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,225 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $23k less ($428,000 vs $450,500)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Clifton by $15,225/yr
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$15,225
$94,179 vs $78,954/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
78% lower
165.8 vs 754.9 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$23k less
$428,000 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Sacramento
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Sacramento, 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 | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Sacramento is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 12 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 11 and Sacramento wins 12. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $450,500 median home), income ($94,179 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Sacramento, CA are about 2,489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.