Shcity← All cities

Clifton, NJ

Census place 3413690 · pop 89,379

D−43/ 100
🫤 Rough
D−
in NJ
📍 New Jersey ranks #43 of 50 states →
🏆 Obesity28.4% · top 18%
🚽 Prop tax2.17% · bottom 8%
💡 Did you know?

'Sopranos' creator David Chase grew up here, and the city served as a recurring filming location for the show.

Source ↗
Taxes
2.17% property · US 0.99%6.60% sales · US 7.00%up to 10.75% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

Google Maps ↗Zillow ↗Wikipedia ↗

The breakdown — worst first

Property-tax burden2.17%8

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

2.17% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Unemployment rateCounty-level5.2%10

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

5.2% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Uninsured adults16.0%15

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

16.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Rent$2,578/mo15

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$2,578/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Property crime rate2281/100k22

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

2281 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Housing cost$461,90023

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

$461,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Commute time28 min24

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

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

Income inequality0.4534

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Physical inactivity27.7%36

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

27.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Homeownership59.6%37

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

59.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Broadband access91.3%47

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

91.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level90/10048

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

90/100 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.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level2 days51

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

2 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.

Violent crime rate170/100k56

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

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

Bachelor's degree or higher35.5%61

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

35.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population growth (5yr)+4.9%63

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

+4.9% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Poverty rate7.9%69

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

7.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Median household income$98,23774

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

$98,237 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Adult smoking10.7%75

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

10.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Air quality (AQI)County-level38 AQI77

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

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

Poor mental health15.0%78

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

15.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Adult obesity28.4%82

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

28.4% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Frequently asked

Is Clifton, NJ a good place to live?
By the numbers, Clifton scores 43/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is adult obesity 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 Clifton, NJ?
Clifton reports 170 violent crimes per 100k and 2281 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Clifton, NJ expensive to live in?
Clifton has a median home value of $461,900 and typical rent around $2,578/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Clifton, NJ?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (2.17%) — 8/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Clifton, NJ best at?
Its strongest measured area is adult obesity (28.4%) — 82/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: 'Sopranos' creator David Chase grew up here, and the city served as a recurring filming location for the show.

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