Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Clifton leads 13 of 22 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Trenton
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $49,735 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 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
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Trenton
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $317k less ($111,200 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $456/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,633)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $49,735/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$49,735
$94,179 vs $44,444/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
84% lower
165.8 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Clifton
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
6.4% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$317k less
$111,200 vs $428,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 90,055 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clifton leads 13 of 22 categories. Clifton wins 13 and Trenton 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $111,200 median home), income ($94,179 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Trenton, NJ are about 54 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.