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Living in
Clifton.
About
Life in Clifton
Clifton works well if you want suburban living with easy Manhattan access—your commute averages just over 29 minutes depending on where you work. The median household income of $99k puts it solidly middle to upper-middle class, though homes median around $462k and rentals run about $1,660 monthly, which is reasonable for the region but not cheap. Schools are a consideration: Clifton High School is the largest single-facility high school in New Jersey, which means your kids could be in a very large system, and the district spans 18 schools across pre-K through 12th grade.
Clifton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Foreign-Born
35.1%
Broadband Internet
91.3%
of households
Population Growth
+1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics35.1% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Clifton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Clifton, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (13.7%), and 32.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.7%
of residents
65 and Older
19.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.3%
of households
Married Couples
49.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.65
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for NJ
Rent, home values, and income in Clifton
Rent and home values here are close to the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
59.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1951
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $608,762 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NJ
Unemployment in Clifton
Unemployment in Clifton is close to the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Clifton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute28.3 min avg
How Clifton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Clifton, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Major hub23.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 50% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Clifton runs 50% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
165.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,953.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Clifton Police Department
Natural DisastersFlash Flood most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Passaic County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Passaic County, which includes Clifton, the most common type is flash flood, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Winter Weather | $13,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2023 | 7 | Flash Flood | $4,000 |
| 2022 | 7 | Winter Weather | $1,500 |
| 2021 | 19 | Flash Flood | $40,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | High Wind | $56,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $76,000 |
| 2018 | 15 | Flash Flood | $3.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Passaic County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Passaic County, which includes Clifton, is typically good — 268 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
268
per year
Moderate Days
92
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Passaic County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Clifton has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 28°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/28°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.6"
Annual Snowfall
28.2"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
117
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 26°F | 3.28" |
| Feb | 43°F | 27°F | 2.82" |
| Mar | 51°F | 34°F | 4.09" |
| Apr | 63°F | 44°F | 3.97" |
| May | 73°F | 53°F | 3.94" |
| Jun | 82°F | 63°F | 4.25" |
| Jul | 87°F | 69°F | 4.45" |
| Aug | 85°F | 67°F | 4.25" |
| Sep | 78°F | 60°F | 4.11" |
| Oct | 67°F | 48°F | 3.73" |
| Nov | 56°F | 38°F | 3.30" |
| Dec | 45°F | 31°F | 4.10" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Clifton
Uninsured
6.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Clifton's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St Mary's General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.1 mi away · Passaic
St Joseph's University Medical Center Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · 2.8 mi away · Paterson
Essex County Hospital Center
Psychiatric · 4.1 mi away · Cedar Grove
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Clifton
Clifton's student/teacher ratio is 11.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 35.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
21
within city limits
Private Schools
13
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Clifton (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 28,663 students · in-state tuition $65,622 · 89% graduate · median earnings $90,957 (10 yrs after entry)
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
12.5 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 18,623 students · in-state tuition $5,170 · 33% graduate · median earnings $47,784 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 16,289 students · in-state tuition $7,382 · 59% graduate · median earnings $70,502 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 16,154 students · in-state tuition $7,462 · 72% graduate · median earnings $83,742 (10 yrs after entry)
CUNY New York City College of Technology
14.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 13,580 students · in-state tuition $7,332 · 32% graduate · median earnings $57,019 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 12,505 students · in-state tuition $7,340 · 58% graduate · median earnings $69,594 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, 4 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Clifton
Clifton has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (4 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
4 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
7 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
11 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
11 mi awayStonewall National Monument
National Monument
12 mi awayTheodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
13 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
13 mi awayPublic Libraries in Clifton
Clifton Public Library
292 Piaget Avenue, Clifton
Alwood Branch
44 Lyall Rd., Clifton
Cities Near Clifton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Clifton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Clifton FAQ
Is Clifton, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Clifton's median rent is $1,711/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $98,237/year. Median home value is $461,900.
Is Clifton, New Jersey safe?⌄
Clifton's violent crime rate was 166 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1953 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Clifton, New Jersey?⌄
Clifton has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Clifton, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Clifton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,711/month and median household income is $98,237/year. The median home value is $461,900. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Clifton, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Clifton is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from