Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Clifton leads 17 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Waterbury
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Households earn $42,728 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Waterbury
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 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 17% higher than Waterbury
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($162,800 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $493/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,633)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Cons
Median income trails Clifton by $42,728/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.4%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Median Income
$42,728
$94,179 vs $51,451/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
49% lower
165.8 vs 322.5 per 100k
Clifton
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
6.4% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$265k less
$162,800 vs $428,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 17 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 17 and Waterbury wins 6. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $162,800 median home), income ($94,179 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Waterbury, CT are about 76 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.