Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salt Lake City, UT
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 12 of 23 categories
Salt Lake City
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
11
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.
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $20,906 more per year on average
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $296k less ($162,800 vs $458,600)
63% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Rent averages $114/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,254)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Salt Lake City
Cons
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $20,906/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 3.6%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$20,906
$72,357 vs $51,451/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
63% lower
322.5 vs 864.2 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$296k less
$162,800 vs $458,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $458,600⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,254 | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,357 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.9% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.2:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salt Lake District | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.7" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 46.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,269 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salt Lake City's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 12 of 23 categories. Salt Lake City wins 12 and Waterbury wins 11. 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 Salt Lake City to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,600 vs $162,800 median home), income ($72,357 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salt Lake City, UT and Waterbury, CT are about 2,006 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.