Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Columbus leads 14 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
9
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $11,543 more per year on average
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waterbury, CT
Pros
26% less violent crime than Columbus
Homes cost $50k less ($162,800 vs $212,500)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Columbus by $11,543/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.2%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Income
$11,543
$62,994 vs $51,451/yr
Columbus
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Violent Crime
26% lower
322.5 vs 434.9 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$50k less
$162,800 vs $212,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 14 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 14 and Waterbury wins 9. 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 Columbus to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $162,800 median home), income ($62,994 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Waterbury, CT are about 531 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.