Signals
Lake Ronkonkoma
Clifton
Opportunity
68 · Top 26%
vs72 · Top 18%
Climate
70 · Bottom 48%
vs71 · Top 47%
Physical resilience
95 · Top 4%
vs36 · Bottom 29%
Housing affordability
59 · Bottom 19%
vs74 · Bottom 40%
Access
82 · Bottom 24%
vs98 · Top 21%
Economic stability
65 · Top 40%
vs72 · Top 24%
Measured values
| Metric | Lake Ronkonkoma | Clifton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,221 | 89,379 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $101,633 | $98,237 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $48,549 | $47,587 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,017/sq mi | 7,927/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $525,000 | $461,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,170 | $1,711 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.6% | 59.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | 1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.1% | 35.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.8% | 7.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 83°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.0" | 46.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 37 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 30.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.6 | 41.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lake Ronkonkoma
Elevated or high exposure: coastal flooding, hurricane.
Clifton
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Lake Ronkonkoma
73
Your Score
—
Area Score
Clifton
64
Your Score
61
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Lake Ronkonkoma, NY · Clifton, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology