Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 13 of 22 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Sandy
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65
Population
95,635 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
33% less violent crime than Sandy
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $64k less ($428,000 vs $492,300)
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $13,986/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Sandy
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,986 more per year on average
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Violent Crime
33% lower
165.8 vs 246.7 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$64k less
$428,000 vs $492,300
Sandy
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$13,986
$108,165 vs $94,179/yr
Sandy
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
2.2% vs 6.4% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 | 69 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 21.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 95,635 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sandy leads 13 of 22 categories. Clifton wins 9 and Sandy wins 13. 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 Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $492,300 median home), income ($94,179 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Sandy, UT are about 1,958 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.