Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Los Angeles leads 12 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ 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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,939 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than New Haven
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $586k less ($236,500 vs $822,600)
27% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $389/mo less ($1,402 vs $1,791)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $21,939/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Income
$21,939
$76,244 vs $54,305/yr
New Haven
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Violent Crime
27% lower
534.8 vs 728.5 per 100k
New Haven
Median Home Value
$586k less
$236,500 vs $822,600
New Haven
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 82.1°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 85.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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, Los Angeles leads 12 of 23 categories. Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles to New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $236,500 median home), income ($76,244 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and New Haven, CT are about 2,509 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.