Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Norwalk leads 14 of 22 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
Norwalk
Connecticut
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($227,200 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $492/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,861)
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $43,439/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.9%)
Norwalk, CT
Pros
Households earn $43,439 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Bridgeport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$265k less
$227,200 vs $491,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 106.5 on the COL index
Norwalk
Median Income
$43,439
$97,879 vs $54,440/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
78% lower
85.0 vs 392.9 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 14 of 22 categories. Bridgeport wins 8 and Norwalk wins 14. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $491,800 median home), income ($54,440 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Norwalk, CT are about 13 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.