Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Memphis leads 15 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451 ✓ Higher
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.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (8.6%)
Homes cost $23k less ($139,600 vs $162,800)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Waterbury by $3,361/yr
Waterbury, CT
Pros
87% less violent crime than Memphis
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Households earn $3,361 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 8.6%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Memphis
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$23k less
$139,600 vs $162,800
Memphis
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
8.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Memphis
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Median Income
$3,361
$51,451 vs $48,090/yr
Waterbury
Violent Crime
87% lower
322.5 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $162,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $51,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 52.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Memphis leads 15 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 15 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 Memphis to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $162,800 median home), income ($48,090 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Waterbury, CT are about 1,018 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.