What it's like to live in Clifton
Clifton is a smaller city in New Jersey with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Clifton deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How Clifton compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Clifton
Based on Clifton's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,422
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $68,440 a year
- 55% of Clifton renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$92,380
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $46,190
- Homes cost 4.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 21% above US
$1,711/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,711 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $461,900. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $461,900 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 19% above US
5.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.1%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 50% below US
166 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1953/100k · Clifton Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.3 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% take public transit; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 28°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
36% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 36% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
21 public schools inside the boundary
There are 21 public schools inside the boundary and 13 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (4 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Clifton's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,711/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime.
Other places near Clifton
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