Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Vallejo, CA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Vallejo leads 13 of 23 categories
Vallejo
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
10
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.
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,661 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $353k less ($162,800 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $754/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,894)
56% less violent crime than Vallejo
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $34,661/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 7.0%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Vallejo
Median Income
$34,661
$86,112 vs $51,451/yr
Vallejo
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
7.0% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
56% lower
322.5 vs 739.8 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$353k less
$162,800 vs $515,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Vallejo, CA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $515,500⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,894⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,112 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.7 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 193⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Vallejo City Unified | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,132 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Vallejo's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vallejo leads 13 of 23 categories. Vallejo wins 13 and Waterbury 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 Vallejo to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($515,500 vs $162,800 median home), income ($86,112 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Vallejo, CA and Waterbury, CT are about 2,587 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.