Clayton 70 Good
Clayton Livability #268 ranked city in New Jersey#7,592 ranked city in the USARanks better than 74% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Clayton

PROS
  • Crime Crime

    With a lower than average crime rate per 100,000 people, this area could be considered a very safe place to live. Crime rates are based on both violent and property crimes.

  • Employment Employment

    The combination of higher than average median home income, income per capita and low unemployment rates results in a score that is well above average in the employment category.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Local residents have positive things to say about the proximity of restaurants, grocery stores, parks, public transit, friendliness of neighbors, sense of community and overall safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Poor air quality and the inaccessibility of certain health related facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors and pharmacies could have all contributed to the low score in this category.

  • Schools Schools

    Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.

What's it like Living in Clayton?

Clayton is a small-sized city located in the state of New Jersey. The city has a population of 8,878 inhabitants. If we look at the most recent Census, Clayton is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. When traveling to work, spending unnecessary time in your vehicle is not ideal and downright frustrating. Across all of America, the average one way commute time is 26 minutes, unfortunately, living in Clayton offers up a higher than average one way commute time of 35 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Clayton could be a positive experience compared to other cities in New Jersey if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, crime, education, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Clayton and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Clayton to New Jersey and the national average.

Clayton, NJ receives 71/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #243 in New Jersey and #6,500 in the USA. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Clayton has higher than average scores for the following: crime (A+), employment (A+) and housing (A+). On a less positive note, Clayton does not have favorable grades for the following: amenities (F) and education (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

Crime rates play a pivotal role in the decision-making process for anyone considering a move, as they directly influence the overall sense of safety, security and quality of life in a given location. Clayton shines in this regard, earning exemplary ratings for its exceptionally low violent crime rates, standing at 141 crimes per 100,000 residents. These rates are notably below the national average, underscoring the community's commitment to safety and contributing to an enhanced quality of life.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Clayton excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Clayton is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Clayton come in at $376,213, which is 32.3% lower than the New Jersey average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Clayton, the home price to income ratio is 2.7, which is 47.1% lower than the New Jersey average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Clayton

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Compare Clayton, NJ Livability

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      Clayton transportation information

      Statistic Clayton New Jersey National
      Average one way commute35min31min26min
      Workers who drive to work76.0%71.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.7%8.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit6.9%11.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.8%3.0%2.8%
      Working from home5.3%4.1%4.6%
      Source: The Clayton, NJ data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.