Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 New Haven leads 12 of 23 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Vancouver
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($236,500 vs $403,400)
8% less violent crime than Vancouver
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $123/mo less ($1,402 vs $1,525)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vancouver by $19,321/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 5.6%)
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Households earn $19,321 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
New Haven
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Violent Crime
8% lower
534.8 vs 582.3 per 100k
New Haven
Median Home Value
$167k less
$236,500 vs $403,400
Vancouver
Median Income
$19,321
$73,626 vs $54,305/yr
Vancouver
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 4.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Haven leads 12 of 23 categories. New Haven wins 12 and Vancouver 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 New Haven to Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $403,400 median home), income ($54,305 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and Vancouver, WA are about 2,468 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.