City comparison
Visalia, CA vs Waterbury, CT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Visalia, CA (99.8) and Waterbury, CT (99.8, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Visalia, CA goes as far as $100,000 in Waterbury, CT.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,445 a month in Waterbury, CT versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Waterbury, 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 Waterbury, CT.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +17.3% moving from Visalia, CA to Waterbury, CT ($106,973 → $125,431), while prices change by −0.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +17.3% in real buying power.
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (about average)
- Waterbury, CT: 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
| Visalia, CA | Waterbury, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,953 in Waterbury | $100,047 in Visalia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,123/mo | $1,445/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $75,255 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $3,925 (CT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,130 | $51,440 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA |
Rent areas: Visalia, CA MSA and Waterbury-Shelton, CT MSA. Metro areas: Visalia, CA and Waterbury-Shelton, CT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Visalia | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.1 | 89.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 97.3 |
| Utilities | 156.4 | 147.6 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 102.7 |
| Overall | 99.8 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Visalia, CA → Waterbury, CT
Roughly even
Buying power +0.0%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$1,145/yr.
69 Fair offer
Waterbury, CT → Visalia, CA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,145/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Visalia, CA is in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA pay area; Waterbury, CT is in New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Visalia, CA to Waterbury, CT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Visalia, CA | Waterbury, CT | Real change, Visalia → Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,033 | $72,737 | +17.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,055 | $88,005 | +17.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,959 | $105,481 | +17.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,973 | $125,431 | +17.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,410 | $148,222 | +17.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Visalia, CA | Waterbury, CT | Waterbury pay in Visalia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $98,430 | $79,640 | $79,678 (−19.1%) |
| Software Developers | $126,170 | $131,290 | $131,352 (+4.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,400 | $93,010 | $93,054 (+17.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,180 | $101,690 | $101,738 (−18.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.