Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 13 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($227,200 vs $324,800)
32% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Rent averages $245/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,614)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $9,604/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 6.2%)
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 38°F
Households earn $9,604 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
32% lower
392.9 vs 575.8 per 100k
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$98k less
$227,200 vs $324,800
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$9,604
$64,044 vs $54,440/yr
West Palm Beach
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
6.2% vs 9.5% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Bridgeport is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 10 and West Palm Beach wins 13. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $324,800 median home), income ($54,440 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,073 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.