Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Arden-Arcade leads 16 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,028 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (8.1%)
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $304k less ($162,800 vs $466,300)
38% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Rent averages $245/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,385)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Arden-Arcade by $13,028/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 8.1%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Income
$13,028
$64,479 vs $51,451/yr
Arden-Arcade
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
8.1% vs 9.8% unemployment
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
38% lower
322.5 vs 518.1 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$304k less
$162,800 vs $466,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arden-Arcade leads 16 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 16 and Waterbury wins 7. 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 Arden-Arcade to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $162,800 median home), income ($64,479 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Waterbury, CT are about 2,531 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.