Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 12 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Stamford
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $15,350 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $184/mo less ($1,945 vs $2,129)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Stamford, CT
Pros
80% less violent crime than Seattle
Homes cost $295k less ($584,700 vs $879,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $15,350/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.2%)
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Seattle
Median Income
$15,350
$116,068 vs $100,718/yr
Seattle
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
Violent Crime
80% lower
157.5 vs 775.1 per 100k
Stamford
Median Home Value
$295k less
$584,700 vs $879,900
Stamford
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, 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 | $879,900⚠ High | $584,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 ✓ Higher | $100,718 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 50.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 19.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle'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 12 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 11 and Stamford wins 12. 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 Seattle to Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $584,700 median home), income ($116,068 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Stamford, CT are about 2,412 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.