Clifton receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
North Plainfield
Clifton
Opportunity
62 · Top 37%
vs72 · Top 18%
Growth
20 · Bottom 8%
vs39 · Bottom 30%
Climate
63 · Bottom 30%
vs71 · Top 47%
Physical resilience
49 · Bottom 42%
vs36 · Bottom 29%
Housing affordability
72 · Bottom 36%
vs74 · Bottom 40%
Access
96 · Top 33%
vs98 · Top 21%
Economic stability
71 · Top 28%
vs72 · Top 24%
Measured values
| Metric | North Plainfield | Clifton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,809 | 89,379 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $87,349 | $98,237 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,706 | $47,587 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 8,126/sq mi | 7,927/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $374,700 | $461,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,752 | $1,711 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 53.3% | 59.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.9% | 1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 35.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 7.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 0 | 60 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.0 | 0.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -100.0% | 7.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.5" | 46.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 15 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 33.4 min | 30.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.2 | 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
North Plainfield
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
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.
North Plainfield
62
Your Score
57
Area Score
Clifton
64
Your Score
61
Area Score
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Full profiles: North Plainfield, NJ · Clifton, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology