Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 16 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Stamford
Connecticut
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($478,400 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $387/mo less ($1,742 vs $2,129)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 85°F
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Stamford by $13,752/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Stamford, CT
Pros
68% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,752 more per year on average
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Home Value
$106k less
$478,400 vs $584,700
Stamford
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Median Income
$13,752
$100,718 vs $86,966/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
68% lower
157.5 vs 489.7 per 100k
Stamford
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
Stamford
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 16 of 23 categories. Kent wins 7 and Stamford wins 16. 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 Kent to Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $584,700 median home), income ($86,966 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Stamford, CT are about 2,408 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.