Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Sparks leads 15 of 23 categories
Sparks
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Waterbury
Connecticut
8
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.
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $31,487 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 25.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($162,800 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $386/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,526)
18% less violent crime than Sparks
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $31,487/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.1%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Median Income
$31,487
$82,938 vs $51,451/yr
Sparks
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.8% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
18% lower
322.5 vs 394.4 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$261k less
$162,800 vs $423,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 15 of 23 categories. Sparks wins 15 and Waterbury 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 Sparks to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $162,800 median home), income ($82,938 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and Waterbury, CT are about 2,424 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.