Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Simi Valley, CA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Simi Valley leads 15 of 23 categories
Simi Valley
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Stamford
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Stamford
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $11,426 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Stamford
Stamford, CT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $120k less ($584,700 vs $704,200)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $273/mo less ($2,129 vs $2,402)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $11,426/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Simi Valley
Median Income
$11,426
$112,144 vs $100,718/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
18% lower
129.1 vs 157.5 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 84.8°F
Stamford
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Median Home Value
$120k less
$584,700 vs $704,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Simi Valley, CA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $704,200⚠ High | $584,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,402⚠ High | $2,129⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $112,144 ✓ Higher | $100,718 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.0% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Simi Valley Unified | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,153 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.2 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.8% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Simi Valley's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 15 of 23 categories. Simi Valley wins 15 and Stamford wins 8. 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 Simi Valley to Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($704,200 vs $584,700 median home), income ($112,144 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Simi Valley, CA and Stamford, CT are about 2,488 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.