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Clifton, NJ

Full City Profile · New Jersey · Essex County County

3.4 /5.0
B Good
89,247 Population 7,912/sq mi density
$99,003 Median Income $45,102 per capita
$444,300 Home Value $600,068 Zillow
$1,658 Median Rent 32.1% income on rent
55°F Avg Temperature 273 sunny days/yr
112 Violent Crime/100K 1,496 property/100K
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.5 / 5.0
$99,003 median income, 4.8% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.1 / 5.0
$444,300 home value, $1,658/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
112 violent crimes/100K
B+
Education
3.8 / 5.0
34.5% bachelor's degree or higher
Clifton experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. The area gets 273 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 59.8 inches. The area receives 12.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39.

Temperature

40°F Jan (4°C) 76°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average54.8°F
1% above US avg
January Average40°F (4°C)
July Average76°F (24°C)
Sunny Days273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation157 ft (48 m)
Area11.4 sq mi (29.5 km²)
Population Density7,912/sq mi
Coordinates40.8621°N, 74.1604°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyEssex County County
Nearest AirportNewark Liberty International (EWR)
12 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 59.8"
57% above US avg
Snowfall 12.3"
Wettest Month (May) 4.53"
Driest Month (Feb) 2.99"

Air Quality

AQI Median39.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score97.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability80.3 / 100
Community Resilience27.7 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively High
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Very High
Heat Wave Relatively High
Winter Weather Very High
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

20 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.8. Most recent: M2.8 on Aug 5, 2025.

Apr 5, 2024 2024 Tewksbury, New Jersey Earthquake M4.8 54 km
Apr 5, 2024 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey M3.7 53 km
Aug 26, 2003 4 km NNW of Milford, New Jersey M3.1 85 km
Jan 9, 1992 4 km WNW of Robertsville, New Jersey M3.1 58 km
Oct 28, 1991 3 km WNW of Stamford, Connecticut M3.0 54 km
Aug 3, 2025 0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey M3.0 9 km
Feb 3, 2009 1 km ESE of Victory Gardens, New Jersey M3.0 31 km
May 24, 2024 6 km E of Califon, New Jersey M2.9 53 km
Apr 27, 2024 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey M2.9 53 km
Aug 5, 2025 1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey M2.8 20 km
Apr 12, 1991 2 km ENE of North Castle, New York M2.7 53 km
Aug 14, 2014 6 km SW of Deep River Center, Connecticut M2.7 150 km
Aug 14, 2015 3 km SE of Mendham, New Jersey M2.6 37 km
May 1, 2024 1 km NW of Gladstone, New Jersey M2.6 46 km
Oct 27, 2001 1 km NNW of Manhattan, New York M2.6 18 km
Apr 10, 2024 5 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey M2.6 51 km
Aug 22, 2000 2 km WSW of Brewster Hill, New York M2.6 76 km
Apr 5, 2024 6 km ESE of Califon, New Jersey M2.6 55 km
Jan 15, 1992 5 km NNE of Tuxedo Park, New York M2.5 42 km
Feb 26, 1993 2 km SW of Marlton, New Jersey M2.5 128 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Hurricane History

3 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Sandy (2012, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2012 Sandy Category 1 297 km
1991 Bob Category 2 177 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 78 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980-2026)

Tornado History

224 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 12 fatalities, 123 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 31, 1998 EF3 93 km 0
Oct 18, 1990 EF3 67 km 0
Jul 14, 1988 EF3 61 km 0
Sep 26, 1977 EF3 63 km 0
Mar 21, 1976 EF3 87 km 0
May 28, 1973 EF3 29 km 0
May 28, 1973 EF3 47 km 0
Jun 24, 1960 EF3 84 km 0
Apr 1, 2023 EF2 81 km 0
Apr 1, 2023 EF2 83 km 0
Apr 1, 2023 EF2 79 km 0
Feb 21, 2023 EF2 79 km 0
Jul 29, 2021 EF2 88 km 0
May 15, 2018 EF2 81 km 0
Jul 29, 2009 EF2 60 km 0
Jul 29, 2009 EF2 92 km 0
Aug 8, 2007 EF2 26 km 0
Jul 12, 2006 EF2 34 km 0
May 27, 2001 EF2 59 km 0
Sep 7, 1998 EF2 47 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Tsunami History

3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 0.3 m (1 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1964 LONG ISLAND, NY Meteorological 0.3 m - 90 km
1895 HIGH BRIDGE, NJ Earthquake - - 65 km
1840 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Earthquake - - 147 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (23,000 ac, 1985).

Year Name Acres Distance
1985 UNNAMED 23,000 37 km
2016 16 MILE 7,896 91 km
2024 JENNINGS CREEK 5,069 37 km
2023 JIMMYS WATER HOLE 3,585 97 km
2002 UNNAMED 2,824 99 km
2015 ROOSA GAP 2,747 89 km
2010 FORT DIX RANGE 1-14 2,615 99 km
2008 UNNAMED 2,224 97 km
2016 SAMS POINT FIRE-VERKEERDER FIRE 1,929 92 km
1995 UNNAMED 1,318 99 km
1992 UNNAMED 959 97 km
1986 LAKEHURST NAVAL AIR 906 95 km
1995 UNNAMED 877 99 km
1988 UNNAMED 833 42 km
1985 UNNAMED 737 58 km
1989 LAKEWOOD 728 88 km
2016 BEAR TOWN 649 96 km
2016 SHERWOOD 642 36 km
2014 TURKEY RUN ROAD 546 99 km
1999 UNNAMED 544 100 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 40°F (4°C) 3.8 in
February 32°F (0°C) 3.0 in Coldest, Driest
March 41°F (5°C) 4.1 in
April 51°F (11°C) 4.2 in
May 62°F (17°C) 4.5 in Wettest
June 71°F (21°C) 3.9 in
July 76°F (24°C) 4.5 in Warmest
August 74°F (23°C) 4.2 in
September 66°F (19°C) 4.3 in
October 55°F (13°C) 3.8 in
November 45°F (7°C) 4.2 in
December 35°F (2°C) 3.7 in

Clifton has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 32°F in February to 76°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 48.3 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.5") and February the driest (3.0").

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