City · New Jersey
Clifton, New Jersey
Clifton, city, in Passaic County, New Jersey. Clifton had 91,127 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 90,296 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 89,379 (±57). GEOID 3413690.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
91,127
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 90,296 · ACS 2020-2024: 89,379 ±57
Median household income
$98,237
±$4,859 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $103,556
Median home value
$461,900
±$6,688 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $454,400
Median gross rent
$1,711
±$53 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $1,720
Where is Clifton and what county is it in?
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey. It covers 11.3 square miles of land, 8,009 residents per square mile in 2020.
Clifton is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Clifton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 91,127 people lived in Clifton on July 1, 2025, up 1.4% since 2020, slower than New Jersey (+2.8%). The 2020 Census counted 90,296 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 89,379 (±57).
| Measure | Clifton | Passaic County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 89,379 ±57 | 521,012 | +4,175 |
| Households | 33,614 ±862 | 178,936 | +4,358 |
| Average household size | 2.65 ±0.07 | 2.86 | −0.24 |
| Housing units | 34,611 ±849 | 185,816 | +3,127 |
Clifton's population since 2000
From 78,672 in 2000 to 91,127 in 2025: up 15.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Clifton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Clifton?
The median resident of Clifton is 41.6 years old; 19.7% are under 18 and 19.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 45.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 39.4%. 35.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Clifton | Passaic County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 ±1.3 | 38.1 | +2.1 |
| Under 18 years | 19.7% ±1.1 pts | 23.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.5% ±1.3 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Male | 49.3% ±1.0 pts | 49.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 39.4% ±2.1 pts | 44.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 45.9% ±1.9 pts | 37.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.5% ±0.9 pts | 9.7% | −1.4 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 8.3% ±0.9 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3% ±0.7 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 35.1% ±1.7 pts | 33.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 56.3% ±2.0 pts | 51.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.4% ±0.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
| With a disability | 12.0% ±1.1 pts | 9.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.8% ±1.1 pts | 12.0% | −3.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.6% ±1.4 pts | 84.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.5% ±1.9 pts | 30.9% | +2.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.7% ±1.1 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.4% ±1.7 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6% ±0.7 pts | 1.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Clifton earn?
Half of Clifton's 33,614 households earn less than $98,237 a year (±$4,859), against $87,522 in Passaic County and $103,556 in New Jersey. In 2015-2019 it was $94,328 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Clifton | Passaic County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $98,237 ±$4,859 | $87,522 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $127,188 ±$5,042 | $117,469 | – |
| Per capita income | $47,587 ±$1,951 | $40,703 | +$6,234 |
| People below the poverty line | 7.9% ±1.2 pts | 13.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.4% ±2.5 pts | 19.3% | −7.8 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.5% ±1.6 pts | 19.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.4% ±1.6 pts | 95.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.3% ±1.7 pts | 92.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Clifton?
Owners occupy 59.6% of Clifton's occupied homes and renters 40.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $461,900 by its owner (±$6,688). The median renter pays $1,711 a month including utilities, and 49.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Clifton | Passaic County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $461,900 ±$6,688 | $459,500 | +$36,818 |
| Median gross rent | $1,711 ±$53 | $1,621 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 49.4% ±4.7 pts | 48.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,004 ±$80 | $3,014 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 59.6% ±1.9 pts | 53.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 40.4% ±1.9 pts | 46.9% | – |
| Housing units | 34,611 ±849 | 185,816 | +3,127 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.5% ±0.9 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 46.4% ±2.0 pts | 41.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.9% ±0.8 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 31.2% ±2.2 pts | 28.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 10.0% ±1.8 pts | 13.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Clifton building?
Builders took permits for 56 new housing units in Clifton in 2025 (14 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 8 of 12 months), 0.6 per 1,000 residents against 2.9 across New Jersey.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Clifton work and get to work?
66.5% of Clifton's workers drive alone and 12.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.1%.
| Measure | Clifton | Passaic County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.0% ±1.7 pts | 66.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.1% ±1.0 pts | 8.0% | +3.1 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 66.5% ±2.0 pts | 65.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.3% ±1.2 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 9.0% ±1.3 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.9% ±0.6 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.5% ±1.3 pts | 11.5% | +9.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.3 min ±1.3 | 26.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Clifton?
18 census tracts lie mostly in Clifton (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $30,644 (Tract 1251) to $152,165 (Tract 1243.11).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1245Passaic County | 7,544 | $62,163 |
| Tract 1243.21Passaic County | 6,538 | $120,156 |
| Tract 1247Passaic County | 6,126 | $102,705 |
| Tract 1250Passaic County | 5,796 | $88,750 |
| Tract 1246.02Passaic County | 5,734 | $81,500 |
| Tract 1244.02Passaic County | 5,723 | $119,946 |
| Tract 1243.22Passaic County | 5,413 | $134,030 |
| Tract 1244.04Passaic County | 5,158 | $79,215 |
| Tract 1243.11Passaic County | 5,102 | $152,165 |
| Tract 1243.12Passaic County | 4,804 | $147,450 |
| Tract 1249Passaic County | 4,779 | $70,859 |
| Tract 1242.02Passaic County | 4,293 | $132,647 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Clifton) · Census block assignment files
How does Clifton compare with other places in New Jersey?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Clifton is the 387th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 6th-most populous of 323 in New Jersey.
Clifton ranks 510th of 771 places in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 6th | 323 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 330th | 532 |
| Residents per square mile | 61st | 787 |
| Median household income | 510th | 771 |
| Per capita income | 521st | 785 |
| Median home value | 338th | 777 |
| Median gross rent | 412th | 701 |
| Poverty rate | 217th | 539 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 505th | 780 |
| Median age | 453rd | 786 |
| Owner-occupied share | 632nd | 777 |
| Work from home | 497th | 695 |
| Travel time to work | 500th | 787 |
Clifton's figures with every place in New Jersey (CSV)
Every place in New Jersey, sortable · Compare Clifton with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Clifton?
4 of the 57 figures for Clifton on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Clifton are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Clifton.