INTRO/INDUSTRY 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 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. Saint 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. HOUSING 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. Indeed, 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 ranches and midcentury split-levels. Location is driving the price. “You’re close to Montclair, which is a more exclusive zip code,” Guevara explains. “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. SCHOOLS Clifton Public School District receives an overall B rating from Niche, as well as an A in the Clubs and Activities category. There are 18 schools in the district, with over 10,000 students in attendance total. 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 is continuing to expand, with the School of Communication and Media opening in 2017. The Center for Computing and Information Science opened the following year. TRANSPORTATION 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. PARKS AND REC 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, ha istoric Dutch home and plenty of mature trees rising above paved pathways. If a resident is looking for some neighborly connection, they can hop two 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.” SHOPPING AND DINING “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 in pockets. 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 non-profit partners with local schools to build outdoor garden classrooms. CRIME AND ENVIRONMENT 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. Clifton had over 1,800 reported crimes in 2022, giving it the highest stats of any city in Passaic County except for Paterson, the major post-industrial center bordering to the north. That’s up sharply from 1,388 total crimes in 2021, giving Clifton a crime rate of 2,037 per 100,000 residents. Assault was not a leading category, but property crimes were on par with each other, with 190 cases of auto theft reported and 104 cases of burglary reported. Learn more on the Clifton city guide.