City Comparison
New Haven vs Stratford
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Stratford scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
New Haven
Stratford
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
New Haven is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
12% lower than in Stratford.
Housing costs are a major driver: New Haven's average rent is
15% lower than Stratford's.
| Metric | New Haven | Stratford | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,650 | $1,950 | -15% |
| Groceries | $420 | $460 | -9% |
| Utilities | $210 | $190 | +11% |
| Transport | $130 | $130 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $260 | -12% |
| Monthly Total | $2,640 | $2,990 | -12% |
| Cost Index | 112 | 118 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Stratford offers 8% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Stratford delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in New Haven is estimated at
$60,000 vs $65,000 in Stratford.
| Metric | New Haven | Stratford |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $72,000 | $78,000 |
| Salary Needed | $60,000 | $65,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 64,286 idx | 66,102 idx |
| Household Income | $53,000 | $88,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.4°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Stratford sees 1.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | New Haven | Stratford |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 52.50°F | 52.90°F |
| Summer High | 81.00°F | 80.40°F |
| Winter Low | 23.40°F | 24.20°F |
| Rainfall | 44.00 in | 44.50 in |
| Snowfall | 21.10 in | 22.20 in |
| Sunny Days | 253 | 245 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
New Haven has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,500 minutes (58 hours) per year compared to Stratford.
New Haven scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New Haven leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | New Haven | Stratford |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 23 min | 30 min |
| Transit Score | 62.0/100 | 52.0/100 |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 48.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New Haven is the larger city
— approximately 2.6x the population of Stratford.
From a growth perspective, New Haven is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | New Haven | Stratford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 134,023 | 52,305 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 42.1 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 4.50% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
New Haven
Advantages
Home to Yale University, providing world-class cultural events, libraries, and architectural landmarks.
Exceptional transit connectivity via Union Station with direct rail access to New York City and Boston.
Renowned culinary destination famous for distinctive New Haven-style apizza and diverse global dining.
Major healthcare and biotechnology hub anchored by Yale New Haven Health and growing research parks.
Abundant urban parks and coastal access, including East Rock Park and Lighthouse Point Park.
Drawbacks
Overall cost of living and housing expenses are noticeably higher than the U.S. national average.
Property crime and localized safety concerns persist in certain neighborhoods outside the downtown core.
Northeast regional winters bring cold temperatures and seasonal snowfall that require winter preparedness.
State and local tax burdens in Connecticut can be relatively high for middle- and upper-income residents.
Parking downtown can be limited and expensive, particularly during peak academic and event seasons.
Stratford
Advantages
Direct access to Long Island Sound with scenic waterfront parks like Short Beach and Long Beach.
Convenient commuter access via the Stratford Metro-North train station along the New Haven Line.
Strong local employment anchored by major aerospace and manufacturing employers like Sikorsky Aircraft.
Rich colonial history and distinct neighborhood character, including the scenic Lordship peninsula.
More attainable housing options compared to immediate neighboring towns in western Fairfield County.
Drawbacks
Overall cost of living and property taxes remain notably higher than the national U.S. average.
High degree of car dependency for daily errands outside of immediate downtown and transit areas.
Vulnerability to coastal weather events and occasional flooding along low-lying shoreline areas.
Traffic congestion during peak commuting hours along major corridors like I-95 and Route 1.
Limited nightlife and entertainment options directly within town borders compared to larger cities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
New Haven
#562Connecticut, USA
47.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,650
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
112
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
62.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
253/yr
Avg Temp
52.50°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
76
Business
72
Stratford
#462Connecticut, USA
55.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,950
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
118
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
52.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
245/yr
Avg Temp
52.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
77
Business
70
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