Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Lubbock leads 16 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,283 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waterbury, CT
Pros
61% less violent crime than Lubbock
Homes cost $19k less ($162,800 vs $181,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Lubbock by $7,283/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Income
$7,283
$58,734 vs $51,451/yr
Lubbock
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Lubbock
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Violent Crime
61% lower
322.5 vs 821.0 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$19k less
$162,800 vs $181,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 6.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 16 of 23 categories. Lubbock wins 16 and Waterbury wins 7. 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 Lubbock to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $162,800 median home), income ($58,734 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Waterbury, CT are about 1,665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.