Bristol, CT vs Waterbury, CT

Waterbury is moderately more affordable than Bristol, with a 10.8% lower cost of living index. Bristol scores 95 compared to 86 for Waterbury, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Bristol can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bristol is $1,305/month compared to $1,180/month in Waterbury — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waterbury is more affordable at $185,400 median vs $252,300.

Median household income in Bristol is $83,458 compared to $51,642 in Waterbury (+61.6%). While Bristol is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bristol spend roughly 18.8% of their income on rent, less than the 27.4% in Waterbury.