Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Gate, CA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Waterbury leads 15 of 23 categories
South Gate
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Waterbury
Connecticut
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
South Gate, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,737 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (7.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Waterbury
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $416k less ($162,800 vs $578,900)
39% less violent crime than South Gate
20% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Rent averages $260/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,400)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 16.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails South Gate by $15,737/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 7.9%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
South Gate
Median Income
$15,737
$67,188 vs $51,451/yr
South Gate
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
7.9% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
39% lower
322.5 vs 525.6 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$416k less
$162,800 vs $578,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Gate, CA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $578,900⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,188 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.5% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 58.8% | 81.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Westbrook Academy District | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,381 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Gate's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waterbury leads 15 of 23 categories. South Gate wins 8 and Waterbury wins 15. 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 South Gate to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($578,900 vs $162,800 median home), income ($67,188 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Gate, CA and Waterbury, CT are about 2,493 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.