Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Stamford
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Rent averages $265/mo less ($1,864 vs $2,129)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Stamford by $8,426/yr
Longer commutes — 30.8 min average each way
Stamford, CT
Pros
54% less violent crime than Renton
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Households earn $8,426 more per year on average
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Stamford
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Median Income
$8,426
$100,718 vs $92,292/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
54% lower
157.5 vs 339.2 per 100k
Stamford
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories. Renton wins 10 and Stamford wins 13. 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 Renton to Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $584,700 median home), income ($92,292 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Stamford, CT are about 2,406 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.