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Clifton vs Newark

Clifton, New Jersey versus Newark, New Jersey: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

Clifton

Mixed · objective livability44/100

Newark

Mixed · objective livability39/100

Clifton edges out Newark on overall objective livability (44 vs 39 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorCliftonNewark
Affordability
Median Household Income$94k$46k
Cost of Living$58k$58k
Home Value$428k$312k
Monthly Rent$2k$1k
Monthly Owner Costs$3k$2k
Property Tax Rate2.34%2.28%
Income Tax10.70%10.70%
Sales Tax6.60%6.60%
Estimated total tax burden23.50%28.20%
Unemployment6.4%10.7%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)32°F32°F
Summer Temp (Jul)77°F78°F
Annual Precipitation50.6 in50.4 in
Annual Snowfall28.2 in28.2 in
Sunny Days233 days170 days
Summer Humidity63°F63°F
Comfortable Days82 days81 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk35.027.9
Air Quality44 AQI36 AQI
School Quality100.0100.0
Violent Crime742/100k1646/100k
Property Crime1931/100k1819/100k
Community
Population89,451307,355
Median Age40.234.7
Racial Diversity0.600.69
Male/Female Ratio0.950.98
Political LeaningD+56D+56
White (%)46.5%9.4%
Black (%)3.8%45.4%
Hispanic (%)38.5%37.2%
Asian (%)8.5%2.0%
Other / Multiracial (%)2.7%6.0%
Getting Around
Commute Time29 min33 min
Walkability14.9/2015.2/20
Airport Distance12 mi3 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access88.4%78.2%
Amenities Nearby96.9224.47
Park & Nature AccessModerateModerate

Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is Clifton or Newark more affordable?
Newark has the lower cost of living: its index is $58k, compared with Clifton's $58k and Newark's $58k. Median rent is $2k in Clifton versus $1k in Newark.
Is Clifton or Newark safer?
Clifton has the lower violent crime rate. Clifton reports 742/100k and Newark reports 1646/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in Clifton or Newark?
The median home value is $428k in Clifton and $312k in Newark, so homes are more affordable in Newark.
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