Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Orlando leads 12 of 23 categories
Orlando
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ 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.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $14,841 more per year on average
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $170k less ($162,800 vs $332,700)
61% less violent crime than Orlando
Rent averages $369/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,509)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Orlando
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orlando by $14,841/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.2%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Median Income
$14,841
$66,292 vs $51,451/yr
Orlando
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.8% unemployment
Orlando
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
61% lower
322.5 vs 835.8 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$170k less
$162,800 vs $332,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orlando leads 12 of 23 categories. Orlando 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 Orlando to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $162,800 median home), income ($66,292 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and Waterbury, CT are about 1,020 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.