Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Providence leads 14 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Providence, RI
Pros
14% less violent crime than Waterbury
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (7.2%)
Households earn $9,914 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($162,800 vs $293,000)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Providence by $9,914/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 7.2%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Median Income
$9,914
$61,365 vs $51,451/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
14% lower
276.7 vs 322.5 per 100k
Providence
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
7.2% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$130k less
$162,800 vs $293,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 14 of 23 categories. Providence wins 14 and Waterbury wins 9. 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 Providence to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $162,800 median home), income ($61,365 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Waterbury, CT are about 85 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.