| Index | Stratford | Connecticut | National |
| Cost of living | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 106 | 100 |
| Health care | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Housing | 136 | 139 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 108 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Household Items | 108 | 106 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 117 | 116 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Stratford? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Stratford stands at 117, making it 17% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Stratford cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 36.4% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Stratford an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Stratford is 39.5% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 29.4% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Stratford has a median household income of $101,243, which is 24.5% higher than the national average.
Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Stratford, the transportation index is 5.5% higher than the national average.
Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Stratford, the housing index is 36.4% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Stratford, the groceries index registers 4% higher than the national average.
The Stratford cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $117,254 | $9,771 | $2,736 | $3,518 |
| Renters | $52,405 | $4,367 | $1,223 | $1,572 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | 6.35% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Connecticut | 3% | 6.99% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Bridgeport, CT | 149,398 | 109 | 8.6% |
| Derby, CT | 12,684 | 109 | 9.1% |
| West Haven, CT | 56,258 | 109 | 9.5% |
| Ansonia, CT | 19,456 | 111 | 10.8% |
| New Haven, CT | 134,818 | 113 | 12.9% |
| Stratford, CT | 53,937 | 117 | 16.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| North Bay, ON | 53,968 | n/a | |
| Edina, MN | 53,873 | 142 | 42.4% |
| Pensacola, FL | 54,052 | 106 | 5.5% |
| Elkhart, IN | 53,808 | 86 | 13.8% |
| Watsonville, CA | 54,199 | 152 | 52.2% |
| Stratford, CT | 53,937 | 117 | 16.8% |
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