Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa 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
Tampa
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($227,200 vs $333,200)
12% less violent crime than Tampa
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tampa by $12,362/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.2%)
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tampa
Tampa, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $12,362 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
12% lower
392.9 vs 444.6 per 100k
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$106k less
$227,200 vs $333,200
Tampa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Median Income
$12,362
$66,802 vs $54,440/yr
Tampa
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.5% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 15 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 8 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $333,200 median home), income ($54,440 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Tampa, FL are about 1,054 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.