Clifton, NJ vs Fair Lawn, NJ

Clifton is moderately more affordable than Fair Lawn, with a 10.5% lower cost of living index. Clifton scores 126 compared to 141 for Fair Lawn, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fair Lawn can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Clifton is $1,658/month compared to $1,908/month in Fair Lawn — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Clifton is more affordable at $444,300 median vs $532,700.

Median household income in Clifton is $99,003 compared to $147,952 in Fair Lawn (-33.1%). While Fair Lawn is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Clifton spend roughly 20.1% of their income on rent, more than the 15.5% in Fair Lawn.