Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 15 of 22 categories
New York
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Stamford
Connecticut
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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 York, NY
Pros
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,714 vs $2,129)
Cons
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Stamford by $24,111/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Stamford, CT
Pros
77% less violent crime than New York
Households earn $24,111 more per year on average
Homes cost $147k less ($584,700 vs $732,100)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Stamford
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Median Income
$24,111
$100,718 vs $76,607/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
77% lower
157.5 vs 671.0 per 100k
Stamford
Median Home Value
$147k less
$584,700 vs $732,100
Stamford
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $584,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Stamford leads 15 of 22 categories. New York wins 7 and Stamford wins 15. 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 York to Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $584,700 median home), income ($76,607 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Stamford, CT are about 35 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.