Is Cliffside Park Safe, Pros and cons of living in Cliffside Park

Cliffside Park, a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, offers a blend of suburban tranquility and urban accessibility, situated directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan. This prime location provides residents with convenient access to New York City’s extensive job market and cultural attractions, while still maintaining a distinct community feel. The borough is known for its walkability and public transportation options, making it an attractive option for those seeking to balance career opportunities with a desirable living environment.

The community is characterized by a dense urban feel with many residents owning their homes, contributing to a stable neighborhood atmosphere. Cliffside Park boasts a variety of amenities, including numerous bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks, catering to a diverse range of lifestyles. It is a place where young professionals and retirees alike can find a comfortable place to call home, supported by a generally liberal leaning population and above-average public schools.

Is it Safe to Live in Cliffside Park?

Cliffside Park generally offers a safe environment for its residents, with crime rates that are comparable to the national average. The overall crime rate is about 8 per 1,000 residents (as reported by NeighborhoodScout). Your chance of being a victim of any crime in Cliffside Park is approximately 1 in 130 (as reported by NeighborhoodScout).

Violent crime rates in Cliffside Park are also around the national average, with a rate of about 1 per 1,000 inhabitants (as reported by NeighborhoodScout). Property crime, including burglary, larceny, and arson, is also at an average rate of 6 per 1,000 residents nationwide (as reported by NeighborhoodScout). Some residents consider the northeast part of the city to be the safest (as reported by Crime Explorer).

Housing Costs and Availability

The housing market in Cliffside Park presents a mixed picture regarding affordability. The median home value in Cliffside Park is approximately $550,891 (as reported by Livability.com). However, other sources indicate a median home market worth of $443,300 (as reported by HouseCashin).

Rentals are also available, with the median gross rent in Cliffside Park being $1,392 (as reported by HouseCashin). More recently, as of April 2026, the median rent for all bedroom counts and property types in Cliffside Park is $2,700, which is 39% higher than the national average (as reported by Zumper). A one-bedroom apartment averages around $2,000, and a two-bedroom apartment is approximately $2,600 (as reported by Zumper).

Housing expenses in Cliffside Park are notably higher than the national average. Specifically, housing costs are 115% higher than the national average (as reported by PayScale), and total monthly expenses for a single person are estimated at $2,872, and $6,273 for a family of four (as reported by Salary.com).

Cost of Living

Cliffside Park is considered an expensive place to live, with its overall cost of living being 34% higher than the national average (as reported by PayScale). This is further supported by data indicating that the cost of living in Cliffside Park is 39% higher than the national average (as reported by ERI Economic Research Institute).

When breaking down expenses, housing costs are a significant factor, being 115% higher than the national average (as reported by PayScale). Other costs also contribute, with utility prices being 4% higher and transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices being 4% higher than the national average (as reported by PayScale). Grocery prices are also elevated, costing 7% more than the national average (as reported by PayScale).

Healthcare in Cliffside Park is also more expensive, at 11% higher than the national average (as reported by PayScale). These combined expenses place Cliffside Park among the more expensive cities in the United States, with an estimated average cost of living of $2,738 per month (as reported by ERI Economic Research Institute).

Job Market and Economy

The job market in Cliffside Park is supported by a growing economy, with employment in the borough growing at a rate of 1.11% from 2023 to 2024 (as reported by Data USA). The most common employment sectors for residents include Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, followed by Health Care and Social Assistance, and Retail Trade (as reported by Data USA).

Major employers in the broader Bergen County area include prominent companies like LG Electronics, Becton Dickinson, Stryker, KPMG, Samsung, and BMW (as reported by Bergen County Economic Development). Locally, companies such as McDonald’s, United States Postal Service, and Wells Fargo have a presence (as reported by Indeed.com).

The average salary in Cliffside Park is approximately $51,986 annually, which equates to about $24.99 per hour (as reported by ZipRecruiter). However, some sources suggest a median household income of $102,069 (as reported by Livability.com) and another indicating a median household income of $93,452 (as reported by U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts).

Climate and Weather

Cliffside Park experiences a climate with distinct seasons. Throughout the year, temperatures typically range from 26°F to 86°F (as reported by myPerfectWeather). The average annual rainfall is around 49 inches, with an average of 29 inches of snowfall (as reported by Livability.com).

Summers are generally warm and humid, with July being the hottest month, seeing average highs of 86°F and lows of 70°F (as reported by myPerfectWeather). Winters are cold, with January experiencing average highs of 40°F and lows of 27°F (as reported by myPerfectWeather). The area receives the most precipitation in July, with an average of 5 inches, while February is the driest month with about 2.2 inches of rain (as reported by Weather Spark).

The long-range forecast suggests that winters will be warmer than normal, with below-normal precipitation and snowfall (as reported by Almanac.com). Summers are expected to be hotter and drier than normal, with periods of high temperatures in early June and mid-July (as reported by Almanac.com).

Education and School Ratings

The Cliffside Park School District serves the community, with public schools generally rated as above average (as reported by Niche). The district has an average testing ranking of 5 out of 10, placing it in the bottom 50% of public schools in New Jersey (as reported by Public School Review).

Proficiency scores in the district show that approximately 33% of students are proficient in math, compared to the New Jersey average of 38%. In reading, about 50% of students are proficient, which is slightly above the statewide average of 49% (as reported by Public School Review). The student-teacher ratio in Cliffside Park High School is 14 to 1 (as reported by Niche).

Cliffside Park School No. 4, serving grades K-5, receives a B rating and a perfect 5 out of 5 stars on Niche (as reported by Niche). Cliffside Park School No. 6, for grades 5-8, also holds a B rating with a 3.9 out of 5 stars on Niche (as reported by Niche).

Demographics

Cliffside Park has a population of approximately 25,800 residents (as reported by Data USA). The borough has a median age of 41.3 years, with a slightly older female population (43.1 years) compared to males (39.4 years) (as reported by Cliffside Park, New Jersey Population 2026). The population is diverse, with a significant percentage of residents born outside the country, around 46.5% (as reported by Data USA).

The racial makeup of Cliffside Park is varied, with White residents constituting about 45.7% of the population, followed by Asian residents at approximately 14.8% and those of Two or More Races at around 20.1% (as reported by Cliffside Park, New Jersey Demographics: Population, Income, and More). Hispanic or Latino individuals make up about 18.16% of the population (as reported by Wikipedia).

Citizenship in Cliffside Park is lower than the national average, with 84.4% of residents being U.S. citizens (as reported by Data USA). The poverty rate is 10.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined, which is lower than the national average of 12.5% (as reported by Data USA).