Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Waterbury leads 13 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Households earn $20,222 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (8.2%)
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($162,800 vs $304,500)
40% less violent crime than Chicago
Rent averages $174/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,314)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 32°F
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $20,222/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 8.2%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$20,222
$71,673 vs $51,451/yr
Chicago
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
8.2% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
40% lower
322.5 vs 539.8 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$142k less
$162,800 vs $304,500
Waterbury
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waterbury leads 13 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 10 and Waterbury 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 Chicago to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $162,800 median home), income ($71,673 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Waterbury, CT are about 755 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.