Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Bridgeport leads 15 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
62% less violent crime than Trenton
Households earn $9,996 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (9.5%)
More college-educated — 24.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Trenton
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($111,200 vs $227,200)
Rent averages $192/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,369)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bridgeport by $9,996/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Income
$9,996
$54,440 vs $44,444/yr
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
62% lower
392.9 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Bridgeport
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
9.5% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$116k less
$111,200 vs $227,200
Trenton
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bridgeport leads 15 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 15 and Trenton wins 8. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $111,200 median home), income ($54,440 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Trenton, NJ are about 106 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.