Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 12 of 23 categories
Sparks
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Stamford
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sparks, NV
Pros
Rent averages $603/mo less ($1,526 vs $2,129)
Homes cost $161k less ($423,500 vs $584,700)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Stamford
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $17,780/yr
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Stamford, CT
Pros
60% less violent crime than Sparks
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,780 more per year on average
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Sparks
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Home Value
$161k less
$423,500 vs $584,700
Sparks
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 84.8°F
Stamford
Median Income
$17,780
$100,718 vs $82,938/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
60% lower
157.5 vs 394.4 per 100k
Stamford
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 12 of 23 categories. Sparks 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 Sparks to Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $584,700 median home), income ($82,938 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and Stamford, CT are about 2,405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.