Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 15 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($227,200 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $157/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,526)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $28,498/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 6.1%)
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sparks
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $28,498 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$196k less
$227,200 vs $423,500
Sparks
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Income
$28,498
$82,938 vs $54,440/yr
Sparks
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.5% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 104⚠ 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) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 15 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 8 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $423,500 median home), income ($54,440 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Sparks, NV are about 2,422 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.