Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Lancaster leads 12 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,062 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than New Haven
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($236,500 vs $368,800)
36% less violent crime than Lancaster
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $174/mo less ($1,402 vs $1,576)
Cons
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lancaster by $17,062/yr
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$17,062
$71,367 vs $54,305/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Violent Crime
36% lower
534.8 vs 834.7 per 100k
New Haven
Median Home Value
$132k less
$236,500 vs $368,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 85.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lancaster leads 12 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 12 and New Haven 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 Lancaster to New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $236,500 median home), income ($71,367 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and New Haven, CT are about 2,477 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.