Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Clifton leads 13 of 23 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
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $46,922 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Tuscaloosa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($228,300 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $653/mo less ($980 vs $1,633)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $46,922/yr
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$46,922
$94,179 vs $47,257/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
70% lower
165.8 vs 553.4 per 100k
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$200k less
$228,300 vs $428,000
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 105,797 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 13 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 13 and Tuscaloosa wins 10. 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 Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $228,300 median home), income ($94,179 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 905 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.