Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Clifton leads 15 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Springfield
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $46,502 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Springfield
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $230k less ($198,500 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $586/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,633)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $46,502/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$46,502
$94,179 vs $47,677/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
81% lower
165.8 vs 891.4 per 100k
Clifton
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.4% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$230k less
$198,500 vs $428,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 50.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 15 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 15 and Springfield wins 8. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $198,500 median home), income ($94,179 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Springfield, MA are about 121 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.