Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ 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.
Richmond, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,155 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($162,800 vs $308,300)
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,227)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $8,155/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.1%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$8,155
$59,606 vs $51,451/yr
Richmond
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.8% unemployment
Richmond
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
4% lower
322.5 vs 336.9 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$146k less
$162,800 vs $308,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories. Richmond 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 Richmond to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $162,800 median home), income ($59,606 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Waterbury, CT are about 365 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.