Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Midland leads 15 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
8
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $38,997 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($162,800 vs $280,700)
12% less violent crime than Midland
Rent averages $260/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $38,997/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 3.2%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Median Income
$38,997
$90,448 vs $51,451/yr
Midland
Unemployment
6.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 9.8% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 84.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 94.8 on the COL index
Waterbury
Violent Crime
12% lower
322.5 vs 364.9 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$118k less
$162,800 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 6.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Midland is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 15 of 23 categories. Midland wins 15 and Waterbury wins 8. 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 Midland to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $162,800 median home), income ($90,448 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Waterbury, CT are about 1,728 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.