Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Irving leads 15 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irving, TX
Pros
Households earn $25,235 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (4.1%)
15% less violent crime than Waterbury
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($162,800 vs $259,500)
Rent averages $283/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,423)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $25,235/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 4.1%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$25,235
$76,686 vs $51,451/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
15% lower
275.4 vs 322.5 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 9.8% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$97k less
$162,800 vs $259,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 81.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 15 of 23 categories. Irving wins 15 and Waterbury wins 8. 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 Irving to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $162,800 median home), income ($76,686 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Waterbury, CT are about 1,441 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.