Population 89,202 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Clifton
Household size in Clifton
| Period | Clifton | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.84 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.02 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.95 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.75 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Clifton holds 2.75 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.84, as it has nationally. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the southwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Clifton
| Period | Clifton | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.2 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.1 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.6 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.2 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.0 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Clifton skews older than the country: its median age is 43.2, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 39.2 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Clifton
| Period | Clifton | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Clifton: 8.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.2 points, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Clifton
Renters in Clifton
| Period | Clifton | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.3% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.4% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.2% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 40.7% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in Clifton rent their homes (40.7%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Even so, renters make up a smaller share here than in the wider New York area (48.6%). Among homeowners, 39.3% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.3 points, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Clifton
| Period | Clifton | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Clifton: just 4.5% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy has fallen 4.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Clifton
| Period | Clifton | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1952 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1953 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1953 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1951 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Clifton is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1951, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the northeast has the oldest housing. Only 30 of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Clifton
| Period | Clifton | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,211 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,331 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,455 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,807 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$596 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
The median renter in Clifton pays $1,807 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in the New York area overall ($2,060). Rent has climbed $596 a month since 2006–10, up 49%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 34.9% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Clifton
Bachelor's degrees in Clifton
| Period | Clifton | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.5% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.0% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.6% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.4% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Clifton as nationally: 36.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is lower than in the New York area as a whole (43.6%). The share with a degree has risen 5.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Clifton
| Period | Clifton | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.4% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.8% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.7% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.5% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Clifton is close to the national rate: 89.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in the New York area as a whole (86.9%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.1 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Clifton
| Period | Clifton | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Clifton than nationally: unemployment was 7.0%, against 5.4%. The New York area as a whole looks much the same. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Clifton compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton | 2.75 | 43.2 | 8.6% | 40.7% | 4.5% | 1951 | $1,807 | 36.4% | 89.5% | 7.0% |
| Passaic | 3.37 | 32.3 | 28.0% | 76.2% | 4.0% | 1942 | $1,473 | 17.6% | 67.8% | 12.1% |
| Garfield | 2.98 | 38.1 | 12.2% | 55.3% | 7.1% | 1954 | $1,723 | 25.0% | 85.2% | 6.9% |
| Wallington | 2.58 | 40.7 | 9.7% | 62.5% | 6.3% | 1958 | $1,692 | 38.5% | 93.9% | 8.3% |
| Woodland Park | 2.54 | 42.9 | 14.3% | 37.1% | 3.6% | 1968 | $1,835 | 40.3% | 94.3% | 5.0% |
| Brookdale | 2.87 | 39.6 | 5.4% | 15.0% | 4.5% | 1948 | $1,930 | 63.8% | 96.3% | 4.3% |
| Upper Montclair | 3.11 | 42.1 | 5.9% | 14.2% | 7.9% | 1941 | $2,133 | 85.3% | 99.1% | 4.9% |
| Elmwood Park | 2.92 | 41.7 | 13.9% | 42.7% | 5.3% | 1960 | $2,080 | 34.8% | 90.6% | 7.4% |
| Paterson | 3.32 | 34.2 | 26.9% | 73.2% | 6.5% | 1955 | $1,589 | 12.4% | 74.1% | 10.3% |
| East Rutherford | 2.44 | 37.4 | 10.7% | 64.6% | 5.6% | 1974 | $2,058 | 46.5% | 87.3% | 3.6% |
| Nutley | 2.57 | 41.0 | 8.0% | 29.7% | 4.2% | 1955 | $1,948 | 52.7% | 94.4% | 5.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Minneapolis, MN · Milpitas, CA · Monroe, LA · Missouri City, TX · Mobile, AL · Miramar, FL · Maple Grove, MN · Middletown, OH · Mesa, AZ · Marysville, WA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Clifton. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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