Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Philadelphia leads 13 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
10
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.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (8.6%)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,086 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Waterbury
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Waterbury, CT
Pros
65% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Homes cost $53k less ($162,800 vs $215,500)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $110/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,250)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Cons
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Philadelphia by $6,086/yr
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 8.6%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Income
$6,086
$57,537 vs $51,451/yr
Philadelphia
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
8.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
65% lower
322.5 vs 908.7 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$53k less
$162,800 vs $215,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 13 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 13 and Waterbury wins 10. 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 Philadelphia to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $162,800 median home), income ($57,537 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Waterbury, CT are about 153 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.