Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Stamford
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $348k less ($236,500 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $727/mo less ($1,402 vs $2,129)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Stamford
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $46,413/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.5%)
Stamford, CT
Pros
Households earn $46,413 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than New Haven
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than New Haven
Key Differences at a Glance
New Haven
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Median Home Value
$348k less
$236,500 vs $584,700
Stamford
Median Income
$46,413
$100,718 vs $54,305/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
71% lower
157.5 vs 534.8 per 100k
Stamford
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories. New Haven wins 10 and Stamford wins 13. 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 New Haven to Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $584,700 median home), income ($54,305 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and Stamford, CT are about 36 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.