Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Minneapolis leads 12 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $24,881 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($162,800 vs $328,700)
72% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Rent averages $127/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,267)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 22°F
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $24,881/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.8%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$24,881
$76,332 vs $51,451/yr
Minneapolis
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
72% lower
322.5 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$166k less
$162,800 vs $328,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 12 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 12 and Waterbury wins 11. 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 Minneapolis to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $162,800 median home), income ($76,332 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Waterbury, CT are about 1,042 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.