Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 16 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470
Richmond
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($227,200 vs $308,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 6.1%)
Median income trails Richmond by $5,166/yr
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (6.1%)
14% less violent crime than Bridgeport
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $142/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,369)
Households earn $5,166 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$81k less
$227,200 vs $308,300
Richmond
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Income
$5,166
$59,606 vs $54,440/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
14% lower
336.9 vs 392.9 per 100k
Richmond
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.5% unemployment
Richmond
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $59,606 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 8.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 16 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 7 and Richmond wins 16. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $308,300 median home), income ($54,440 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Richmond, VA are about 341 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.