Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Bridgeport
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470
Oakland
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $657k less ($227,200 vs $883,800)
80% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $480/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,849)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $39,949/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.8%)
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,949 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
80% lower
392.9 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$657k less
$227,200 vs $883,800
Bridgeport
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 83.4°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$39,949
$94,389 vs $54,440/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Bridgeport is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Bridgeport wins 11 and Oakland wins 11. 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $883,800 median home), income ($54,440 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Oakland, CA are about 2,591 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.