Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Denver leads 12 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
11
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $34,402 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $378k less ($162,800 vs $540,400)
68% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $525/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,665)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $34,402/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 4.7%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$34,402
$85,853 vs $51,451/yr
Denver
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.8% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
68% lower
322.5 vs 993.0 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$378k less
$162,800 vs $540,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 46.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 12 of 23 categories. Denver wins 12 and Waterbury wins 11. 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 Denver to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $162,800 median home), income ($85,853 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Waterbury, CT are about 1,664 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.