Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita 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
Population
148,470
Santa Clarita
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $442k less ($227,200 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $946/mo less ($1,369 vs $2,315)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $61,746/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.5%)
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $61,746 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Bridgeport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
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
Median Home Value
$442k less
$227,200 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$61,746
$116,186 vs $54,440/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
58% lower
165.4 vs 392.9 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Santa Clarita, 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 | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Bridgeport is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 15 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 8 and Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $669,200 median home), income ($54,440 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Santa Clarita, CA are about 2,488 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.