Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 16 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Rent averages $338/mo less ($1,791 vs $2,129)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Stamford by $24,474/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Stamford, CT
Pros
78% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Homes cost $238k less ($584,700 vs $822,600)
Households earn $24,474 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 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
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Stamford
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Median Income
$24,474
$100,718 vs $76,244/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
78% lower
157.5 vs 728.5 per 100k
Stamford
Median Home Value
$238k less
$584,700 vs $822,600
Stamford
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stamford
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $584,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 16 of 23 categories. Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles to Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $584,700 median home), income ($76,244 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Stamford, CT are about 2,478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.