Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clifton, NJ
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Clifton leads 15 of 23 categories
Clifton
New Jersey
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Westminster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clifton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $349k less ($428,000 vs $777,100)
62% less violent crime than Westminster
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $344/mo less ($1,633 vs $1,977)
Households earn $13,908 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.4%)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Westminster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Clifton by $13,908/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clifton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clifton
Median Income
$13,908
$94,179 vs $80,271/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
62% lower
165.8 vs 436.2 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$349k less
$428,000 vs $777,100
Clifton
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Clifton
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clifton, NJ | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,179 ✓ Higher | $80,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.3% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clifton Public School District | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.6" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,451 | 90,638 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 17.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clifton's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clifton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 15 of 23 categories. Clifton wins 15 and Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($428,000 vs $777,100 median home), income ($94,179 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clifton, NJ and Westminster, CA are about 2,432 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.