Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Clifton leads 12 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Salem
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
69% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $26,639 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $409/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,633)
Homes cost $79k less ($349,500 vs $428,000)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $26,639/yr
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$26,639
$94,179 vs $67,540/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
69% lower
165.8 vs 532.2 per 100k
Clifton
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$79k less
$349,500 vs $428,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 12 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 12 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $349,500 median home), income ($94,179 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Salem, OR are about 2,452 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.