Clifton, NJ vs New Brunswick, NJ

New Brunswick is moderately more affordable than Clifton, with a 5.4% lower cost of living index. Clifton scores 126 compared to 120 for New Brunswick, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Clifton 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 $1,790/month in New Brunswick — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clifton has cheaper rent, New Brunswick actually has lower median home values ($316,800 vs $444,300).

Median household income in Clifton is $99,003 compared to $60,248 in New Brunswick (+64.3%). While Clifton 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, less than the 35.7% in New Brunswick. The Clifton ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.