Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Palm Coast leads 13 of 20 categories
Palm Coast
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $17,373 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($162,800 vs $283,300)
Rent averages $481/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,621)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Coast
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Palm Coast by $17,373/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 4.1%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Median Income
$17,373
$68,824 vs $51,451/yr
Palm Coast
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 9.8% unemployment
Palm Coast
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.8°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$121k less
$162,800 vs $283,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast'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 20 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 13 of 20 categories. Palm Coast wins 13 and Waterbury wins 7. 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 Palm Coast to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $162,800 median home), income ($68,824 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and Waterbury, CT are about 949 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.