Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Anchorage leads 12 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $44,280 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($162,800 vs $363,800)
68% less violent crime than Anchorage
Rent averages $265/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,405)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 21°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $44,280/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.2%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$44,280
$95,731 vs $51,451/yr
Anchorage
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
68% lower
322.5 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$201k less
$162,800 vs $363,800
Waterbury
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 46.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Anchorage leads 12 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 12 and Waterbury wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anchorage to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $162,800 median home), income ($95,731 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Waterbury, CT are about 3,328 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.