Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Independence leads 18 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ 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.
Independence, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (6.2%)
Rent averages $120/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,140)
Households earn $5,964 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waterbury, CT
Pros
44% less violent crime than Independence
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Independence by $5,964/yr
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.2%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Income
$5,964
$57,415 vs $51,451/yr
Independence
Median Home Value
$12k less
$150,800 vs $162,800
Independence
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Violent Crime
44% lower
322.5 vs 571.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $162,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Independence is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 18 of 23 categories. Independence 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 Independence to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $162,800 median home), income ($57,415 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Waterbury, CT are about 1,133 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.