Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Stamford, CT
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories
Stamford
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
Tacoma
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Stamford, CT
Pros
85% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $21,633 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Rent averages $640/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,129)
Homes cost $169k less ($415,300 vs $584,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 85°F
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Stamford by $21,633/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Stamford
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Median Income
$21,633
$100,718 vs $79,085/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
85% lower
157.5 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Stamford
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$169k less
$415,300 vs $584,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Stamford, CT | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $584,700⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,129⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $100,718 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.1% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.4% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Stamford School District | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.9" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,413 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.0% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Stamford's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories. Stamford wins 13 and Tacoma wins 10. 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 Stamford to Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($584,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($100,718 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Stamford, CT and Tacoma, WA are about 2,421 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.