Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 Bridgeport leads 15 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
El Monte
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $370k less ($227,200 vs $597,200)
7% less violent crime than El Monte
Rent averages $236/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,605)
More college-educated — 24.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 7.0%)
Median income trails El Monte by $5,489/yr
El Monte, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Households earn $5,489 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Bridgeport
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
7% lower
392.9 vs 423.2 per 100k
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$370k less
$227,200 vs $597,200
El Monte
Median Income
$5,489
$59,929 vs $54,440/yr
El Monte
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
7.0% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | El Monte, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,605⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $59,929 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 15.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 108,682 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bridgeport is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bridgeport leads 15 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 15 and El Monte wins 8. 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 El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $597,200 median home), income ($54,440 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and El Monte, CA are about 2,474 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.