City Comparison
Waterbury vs Milford
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Milford scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Waterbury
Milford
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Waterbury is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
34% lower than in Milford.
Housing costs are a major driver: Waterbury's average rent is
44% lower than Milford's.
| Metric | Waterbury | Milford | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,450 | $2,600 | -44% |
| Groceries | $420 | $450 | -7% |
| Utilities | $175 | $180 | -3% |
| Transport | $115 | $120 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $250 | -8% |
| Monthly Total | $2,390 | $3,600 | -34% |
| Cost Index | 94 | 122 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Milford offers 19% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Waterbury delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Waterbury is estimated at
$52,000 vs $65,000 in Milford.
| Metric | Waterbury | Milford |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $58,500 | $72,000 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $65,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 62,234 idx | 59,016 idx |
| Household Income | $53,500 | $110,669 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.7°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Waterbury sees 2.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Waterbury | Milford |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.80°F | 52.50°F |
| Summer High | 80.90°F | 80.00°F |
| Winter Low | 20.10°F | 23.80°F |
| Rainfall | 44.50 in | 44.50 in |
| Snowfall | 24.30 in | 22.20 in |
| Sunny Days | 247 | 245 |
| Humidity | 66.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Milford scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Milford leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Waterbury | Milford |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 27 min | 28 min |
| Transit Score | 45.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 62.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 48.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Waterbury is the larger city
— approximately 2.2x the population of Milford.
From a growth perspective, Waterbury is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Milford has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Waterbury | Milford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 114,000 | 52,684 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 0.30% |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 46.6 |
| Unemployment | 4.80% | 4.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Waterbury
Advantages
Median home purchase prices are significantly lower than the Connecticut state average per Zillow data.
Anchored by two major medical centers providing robust local healthcare access per American Hospital Directory.
Convenient highway access via Interstate 84 and Route 8 facilitating regional commutes.
Rich cultural amenities including the historic Palace Theater and diverse local dining options.
Abundant local green spaces such as Fulton Park offering outdoor recreation opportunities.
Drawbacks
Certain neighborhoods experience higher property and violent crime rates than national averages per FBI crime data.
Public transit walkability is limited outside of the immediate downtown core per Walk Score metrics.
Local school district ratings trail behind suburban Connecticut districts per state education reports.
State and local tax burdens remain a consistent challenge for property owners in Connecticut.
Economic mobility and median household incomes lag behind wealthier coastal municipalities.
Milford
Advantages
Milford features 17 miles of scenic coastline, including the popular Silver Sands State Park and multiple public beaches per city records.
The median household income in Milford stands at a robust $110,669 per the U.S. Census Bureau ACS data.
Crime rates in Milford remain significantly below the national average, making it one of New Haven County's safer communities.
The Metro-North commuter rail station provides direct, seamless access to New Haven, Stamford, and New York City.
Over 88% of local adults surveyed by DataHaven report that their neighborhood is an exceptional place to raise children.
Drawbacks
Average monthly rent of $2,600 is significantly higher than the national average, straining affordability for mid-income renters.
High property demand and limited housing inventory make purchasing a single-family home highly competitive and expensive.
Interstate 95 through the coastal corridor experiences heavy rush-hour congestion and bottlenecks.
The median age of 46.6 years indicates a relatively older demographic base, with fewer young working-age singles.
Property taxes in Connecticut can create a heavy financial burden for long-term homeowners.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Waterbury
#507Connecticut, USA
52.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$58,500
Cost Index
94
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
247/yr
Avg Temp
50.80°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
4.80%
Livability
69
Business
64
Milford
#380Connecticut, USA
59.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,600
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
122
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
62.0/100
Sunny Days
245/yr
Avg Temp
52.50°F
Pop. Growth
0.30%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
82
Business
70
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