Clayton, NJ

Census place 3413360 · pop 8,921

D51/ 100
😐 Meh
D
in NJ
📍 New Jersey ranks #43 of 50 states →
🏆 Inequality0.36 · top 5%
🚽 Prop tax2.64% · bottom 2%
Taxes
2.64% property · US 0.99%6.60% sales · US 7.00%up to 10.75% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Property-tax burden2.64%2

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

2.64% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Commute time32 min10

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

32 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.3%26

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level8 days27

U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities

8 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Bachelor's degree or higher23.0%31

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

23.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Broadband access91.2%47

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

91.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Poor mental health17.3%48

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

17.3% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Physical inactivity25.5%48

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

25.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Adult smoking13.4%48

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

13.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Uninsured adults9.3%52

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

9.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Population growth (5yr)+3.4%53

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+3.4% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Housing cost$252,30056

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$252,300 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level85/10057

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

85/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult obesity33.5%58

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

33.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Air quality (AQI)County-level41 AQI62

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

41 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property crime rate973/100k64

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

973 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Violent crime rate129/100k65

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

129 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Median household income$90,27467

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$90,274 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Poverty rate8.0%69

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

8.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Homeownership80.8%87

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

80.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Income inequality0.3695

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.36 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Not measured for Clayton: Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Clayton, NJ a good place to live?
By the numbers, Clayton scores 51/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 21 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is income inequality and its weakest is property-tax burden. New Jersey overall ranks #43 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Clayton, NJ?
Clayton reports 129 violent crimes per 100k and 973 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Clayton, NJ expensive to live in?
Clayton has a median home value of $252,300 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Clayton, NJ?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (2.64%) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Clayton, NJ best at?
Its strongest measured area is income inequality (0.36) — 95/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.