CostIndexUSA

Lancaster, PA vs Waterbury, CT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Lancaster
98.3
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
CT
Waterbury
99.8
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Lancaster is slightly cheaper than Waterbury — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lancaster, you would need $81,200 in Waterbury. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing5.0%
Lancaster
93.8
Waterbury
89.1
🛒 Groceries3.4%
Lancaster
100.7
Waterbury
97.3
🚗 Transportation+5.1%
Lancaster
102.6
Waterbury
107.8
🏥 Healthcare+5.1%
Lancaster
92.8
Waterbury
97.5
Utilities+37.6%
Lancaster
107.3
Waterbury
147.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Lancaster to see what you'd need to earn in Waterbury to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Waterbury, CT
$81,200
$1,200 more needed in Waterbury

Formula: salary × (99.8 ÷ 98.3) = salary × 1.0153. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lancaster, PA

Median Home Price
$372,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
93.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.7×

Waterbury, CT

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
89.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.4×

Lancaster has 5.0% lower housing costs compared to Waterbury.

Income & Job Market

Lancaster, PA

Median Household Income
$80,100
Per Capita Income
$45,700
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
59,322
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismAgriculture

Waterbury, CT

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
114,403
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Lancaster, PA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Waterbury, CT
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.