Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Virginia Beach, VA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 17 of 23 categories
Virginia Beach
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Households earn $36,093 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Waterbury
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($162,800 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $428/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,568)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $36,093/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 4.3%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$36,093
$87,544 vs $51,451/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
71% lower
92.3 vs 322.5 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 9.8% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$181k less
$162,800 vs $343,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Virginia Beach, VA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $343,700⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,568⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,544 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 24 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.8% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Virginia Beach City Public Schools | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 52.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 457,900 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Virginia Beach'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, Virginia Beach leads 17 of 23 categories. Virginia Beach wins 17 and Waterbury wins 6. 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 Virginia Beach to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($343,700 vs $162,800 median home), income ($87,544 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Virginia Beach, VA and Waterbury, CT are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.