Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Stockton, CA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Waterbury leads 12 of 23 categories
Stockton
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,161 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (7.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($162,800 vs $382,000)
72% less violent crime than Stockton
Rent averages $277/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,417)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Stockton
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Stockton by $20,161/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 7.7%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Stockton
Median Income
$20,161
$71,612 vs $51,451/yr
Stockton
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
7.7% vs 9.8% unemployment
Stockton
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
72% lower
322.5 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$219k less
$162,800 vs $382,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Stockton, CA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.4⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $382,000⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,417⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,612 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 6.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 231⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 81.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Stockton Unified | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 320,030 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Stockton's cost of living index is 107.4 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waterbury leads 12 of 23 categories. Stockton wins 11 and Waterbury 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 Stockton to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,000 vs $162,800 median home), income ($71,612 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Stockton, CA and Waterbury, CT are about 2,542 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.