Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Clifton leads 14 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Syracuse
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $50,595 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 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
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Syracuse
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($117,900 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $701/mo less ($932 vs $1,633)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $50,595/yr
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$50,595
$94,179 vs $43,584/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
78% lower
165.8 vs 765.3 per 100k
Clifton
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Clifton
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$310k less
$117,900 vs $428,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 14 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 14 and Syracuse wins 9. 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $117,900 median home), income ($94,179 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Syracuse, NY are about 182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.