Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
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.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $36,307 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (6.3%)
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($162,800 vs $314,400)
13% less violent crime than Suffolk
Rent averages $236/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,376)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Suffolk
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $36,307/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.3%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Median Income
$36,307
$87,758 vs $51,451/yr
Suffolk
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
6.3% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
13% lower
322.5 vs 371.0 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$152k less
$162,800 vs $314,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories. Suffolk wins 16 and Waterbury wins 7. 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 Suffolk to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $162,800 median home), income ($87,758 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Waterbury, CT are about 387 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.