Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Columbia, MO
🏆 Columbia leads 15 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Columbia
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $21k less ($227,200 vs $248,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Columbia
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 4.0%)
Median income trails Columbia by $6,015/yr
Columbia, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (4.0%)
Rent averages $372/mo less ($997 vs $1,369)
12% less violent crime than Bridgeport
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$21k less
$227,200 vs $248,600
Columbia
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$6,015
$60,455 vs $54,440/yr
Columbia
Violent Crime
12% lower
347.5 vs 392.9 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
4.0% vs 9.5% unemployment
Columbia
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Columbia, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $248,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $997 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $60,455 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 7.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (123) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | COLUMBIA 93 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 44.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 17.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 126,172 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 48.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Columbia's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 15 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 8 and Columbia wins 15. 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 Bridgeport to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $248,600 median home), income ($54,440 vs $60,455), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Columbia, MO are about 1,021 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.