Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Bridgeport, CT
🏆 Bridgeport leads 13 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Bridgeport
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,276 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $1053k less ($227,200 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $698/mo less ($1,369 vs $2,067)
38% less violent crime than Berkeley
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $50,276/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$50,276
$104,716 vs $54,440/yr
Berkeley
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.5% unemployment
Bridgeport
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
38% lower
392.9 vs 638.8 per 100k
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$1053k less
$227,200 vs $1,280,300
Bridgeport
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 83.4°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Bridgeport, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $227,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $54,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 24.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 80.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Bridgeport School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 83.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 44.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 148,470 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 45.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Bridgeport's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Bridgeport is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bridgeport leads 13 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 10 and Bridgeport wins 13. 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 Berkeley to Bridgeport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $227,200 median home), income ($104,716 vs $54,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Bridgeport, CT are about 2,592 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.