Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Waterbury leads 13 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Waterbury
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 37°F
Households earn $8,478 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Waterbury
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $434k less ($162,800 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $465/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,605)
24% less violent crime than El Monte
20% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
More college-educated — 16.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails El Monte by $8,478/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 7.0%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$8,478
$59,929 vs $51,451/yr
El Monte
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
7.0% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
24% lower
322.5 vs 423.2 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$434k less
$162,800 vs $597,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 81.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waterbury leads 13 of 23 categories. El Monte 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 El Monte to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $162,800 median home), income ($59,929 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Waterbury, CT are about 2,481 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.