A transportation hub finds its footing as a suburban city, less than 20 miles from Manhattan
Clifton is one of the most populous cities in New Jersey, long associated with convenient transportation networks and the Passaic River. In the past, it was a railroad town where imported animals were quarantined to be vetted by a federal agency. Today, the city is more known for being laced with heavily trafficked roads like the Garden State Parkway and state Route 3. But there are still working farms in the area, and the northwest side is still rugged with cliffs – hence the name, Clifton.
“Clifton is most definitely a suburban city, and a developing one as well, but it does have distinct sections,” says Eric Guevara, a Realtor with eRealty. “Just look at how many ZIP codes the city has. There are sections with lots of businesses, others have multi-family homes and others have big single-family homes.” The Allwood neighborhood, for example, is considered a business district while the Albion Place neighborhood is primarily residential. Nearly 90,000 people live in the city today. The median age is 40. And with Clifton being a suburb, the retail industry supports the local economy. Health care providers, banks and financial services are also leading employers. St. Joseph’s University Medical Center anchors the north side.
Some debate in recent years has been generated around development projects like converting the former Black Prince Distillery into apartments, and putting up a new hotel on Valley Road, a north side corridor that borders Montclair State University. But many consider that a tradeoff worth accepting when moving to a developing area that’s commuter friendly. “People from all over Hudson County come to this area of New Jersey because it’s seen as prime suburbia with train access,” says Daniel Simone, broker associate with KW Commercial and a resident of Rutherford, which meets Clifton’s southern border.
Garrett Mountain's outlooks offer an amazing view of NJ.
Clifton is a densely populated suburban town located 20 miles from Manhattan.
Route 30 is another extremely important roadway which makes commuting to and from Clifton easy.
Clifton is currently expanding with new construction and additions to even their City Hall Park.
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Diverse neighborhoods, with upscale homes near Montclair and colonials near Paterson
Clifton may be a developing suburb, but its distinct neighborhoods accommodate a variety of homebuyers. One of the most touted areas is the west side. “That’s an upscale part of town, where the houses are bigger,” says Guevara. Prices start in the upper $700,000s and it’s not unusual for properties to crest the $1 million mark. There are some modern traditional homes, but more often homebuyers will see ranch-style houses and midcentury split-levels. Location is driving the price. “You’re close to Montclair, which is a more exclusive ZIP code,” Guevara says. “Further south is Delwanna. That also has large homes, but you’re getting views of New York City.” The east side is a different environment. “In Botany Village, the houses are cheaper, and it’s mostly multi-family properties,” says Guevara. “Actually, about 40% of properties in Clifton are multi-family.”
Then, in the northern sections like Albion Place, homebuyers are beginning to mix with the South Paterson neighborhood. “There are new commercial buildings popping up over there,” says Fernando Leyva, a Realtor with EXP Realty. “I like the look, it’s more modern. You’ll see homes in colonial style, too.” The median home price is $500,000 compared to the national median of $416,000.
Clifton has man quiet and peaceful suburbs.
Clifton is home to many multi-family colonial inspired houses.
Houses in Clifton sit fairly close together compared to other quieter suburbs.
Houses with Vinyl siding are plentiful within Clifton New Jersey.
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Clifton High is one of the most populous schools in the state
Clifton Public School District receives an overall B from Niche, as well as an A in the clubs and activities category. There are 18 schools and over 10,000 students in the district. Nearly a third of those students go to Clifton High, the largest student body in the state for a one-facility campus. Montclair State University is also part of the city’s educational scene. It’s the second-largest public university in the state, and continues to expand. The School of Communication and Media opened in 2017 and The Center for Computing and Information Science opened the following year.
Clifton residents live very close to the prestigious Montclair University.
St.Joseph's in Clifton has a University, a hospital and also a specialized Children's Hospital.
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Big commuter paths to drive on, but also plenty of train stations
Route 3, Interstate 80 and the Garden State Parkway are the most important paths in Clifton, but that can lead to heavy traffic. “A big percentage of people who live in Clifton work in New York City, so there’s rush hour traffic in the morning and evening,” says Guevara. “But they’ll also go into the city on weekends for entertainment, so the roads get busy then, too.” It’s about 17 miles to Lower Manhattan, which can be reached in less than half an hour. “There’s also an express bus that goes directly to the city,” says Guevara.
But with several stations in Clifton, taking a train is equally popular. There’s a stop in the Athenia neighborhood, a stop by Third Ward Park further south and finally a stop in the Delwanna neighborhood where Clifton meets Rutherford.
Clifton residents can get around on the numerous bus lines running through the city.
The Garden State Parkway is a crucial NJ parkway that stretches through Clifton.
Clifton residents can get around by trains that connect them to cities throughout New Jersey.
Clifton also has a city center that can be easily accessed through roadways like I-80.
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Immersive hikes and small parks in Clifton
One of the most immersive outdoor experiences in Clifton resides on the north side. Garrett Mountain Reservation offers plenty of scenic hikes, especially around Barbour Pond. There’s even an equestrian center and historic Lambert Castle, made of sandstone and granite from a local quarry. But there are traditional park amenities, too, like athletic facilities and a playground. Less than a mile away is Rifle Camp Park, another sprawling expanse fit for hiking. Clifton has smaller parks in the interior. Weasel Brook Park is outfitted with a playground, a historic Dutch home and plenty of mature trees rising above paved pathways.
If a resident is looking for some neighborly connection, they can hop 2 miles down to Rutherford’s Riggin Memorial Field. “That’s a big kid zone with athletic facilities,” says Simone. “Every kid goes down there, that’s where you can meet locals and make friends.”
Rifle Camp Park in Clifton is an amazing place to hike away from the urban bustle.
Garrett Mountain Reservation in Clifton is home to many trails and furry neighbors.
Garrett Mountain Equestrian Center in Clifton provides care to horses and lessons to riders.
Lambert Castle is a historic site located in Clifton's Garret Mountain Reservation.
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Cosmopolitan dining options and urban farms
“There’s a great diversity of food in Clifton, you can get anything,” says Guevara. “Because you’re close to Paterson, there’s a lot of Greek and Arabic restaurants in the community.” Especially near the north side of Clifton, near South Paterson, diners will find some consistency to the dining scene. “There’s a very strong Middle Eastern presence; it’s a great atmosphere,” says Leyva. Main Avenue is one of the most reliable drags for finding food – it’s lined with eateries.
The area’s agricultural and animal husbandry roots are still on display. Richfield Farms & Garden Center near City Hall has been run by a local family for over a century and is connected to an organic farm operation as well as a petting zoo. City Green Farm Eco-Center is less than a mile away. This nonprofit partners with local schools to build outdoor garden classrooms.
Aura Lounge offers delicious Mediterranean food with a high end sit down ambiance.
The Instanbul Food Bazaar offers a wide variety of Halal meat and middle eastern products.
Richfield Farms & Garden Center
sells a variety of gardening and farming products.
Clifton residents can enjoy delicious breakfast and American food at the Allwood Diner.
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Property crimes are leading offenses, with overall crime trending upward
The city experiences moderately hot summers and moderately cold winters. The average July high is 85 degrees, whereas the average January low is 20 degrees.
According to FBI data, Clifton had 659 violent crimes in 2022 and 456 in 2023. The city had 1,714 property crimes in 2022 and 1,385 in 2023. The 2023 numbers, though, did not include any reportings for the months of February or March in either category.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
