Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 McAllen leads 19 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
53% less violent crime than Waterbury
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $185/mo less ($955 vs $1,140)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 98°F
Cons
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.4%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than McAllen
Median income trails McAllen by $4,875/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$4,875
$56,326 vs $51,451/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
53% lower
150.0 vs 322.5 per 100k
McAllen
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.8% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $162,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 81.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 19 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 19 and Waterbury wins 4. 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 McAllen to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $162,800 median home), income ($56,326 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Waterbury, CT are about 1,781 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.