Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Columbia leads 18 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
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.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Households earn $9,004 more per year on average
Rent averages $143/mo less ($997 vs $1,140)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($162,800 vs $248,600)
7% less violent crime than Columbia
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $9,004/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 4.0%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$9,004
$60,455 vs $51,451/yr
Columbia
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
4.0% vs 9.8% unemployment
Columbia
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Violent Crime
7% lower
322.5 vs 347.5 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$86k less
$162,800 vs $248,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 18 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 18 and Waterbury wins 5. 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 Columbia to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $162,800 median home), income ($60,455 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Waterbury, CT are about 1,031 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.