Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 15 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470
San Jose
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $922k less ($227,200 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1157/mo less ($1,369 vs $2,526)
35% less violent crime than San Jose
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $81,570/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 4.7%)
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $81,570 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
35% lower
392.9 vs 606.8 per 100k
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$922k less
$227,200 vs $1,149,600
San Jose
Median Income
$81,570
$136,010 vs $54,440/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 28.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 85.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Bridgeport is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Jose leads 15 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 8 and San Jose 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($54,440 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and San Jose, CA are about 2,582 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.