City comparison
Norwich, CT vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Norwich, CT (100.4) and Visalia, CA (99.8, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Norwich, CT goes as far as $99,400 in Visalia, CA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,496 a month in Norwich, CT versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Norwich, CT and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,145 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Norwich, CT.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.9% moving from Norwich, CT to Visalia, CA ($120,094 → $106,973), while prices change by −0.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −10.4% in real buying power.
- Norwich, CT: price level 100.4 (about average)
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Norwich, CT | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.4 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,383 in Visalia | $100,621 in Norwich |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,496/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,255 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,925 (CT) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $57,370 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Norwich | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.7 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 148.6 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 100.4 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Norwich, CT → Visalia, CA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,145/yr.
71 Strong offer
Visalia, CA → Norwich, CT
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,145/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Norwich, CT is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Norwich, CT to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Norwich, CT | Visalia, CA | Real change, Norwich → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $62,033 | −10.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $75,055 | −10.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $89,959 | −10.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $106,973 | −10.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $126,410 | −10.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Norwich, CT | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Norwich dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $83,840 | $98,430 | $99,041 (+18.1%) |
| Software Developers | $123,780 | $126,170 | $126,954 (+2.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,530 | $79,400 | $79,893 (−3.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,330 | $125,180 | $125,957 (+24.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.