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Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Waterbury-Shelton, CT

Cost-of-living indicators for Waterbury-Shelton, CT, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.

99.8
Overall RPP
#93
of 387 metros
89.1
Rents RPP
$100K
$100K national buys

The verdict

Waterbury costs less than 24% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 99.8, 0.2% below the national average, with services the biggest swing at 147.6.

99.8
overall cost index (US average = 100)
#93
most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
bottom 76%
by overall cost, nationwide
89.1
rents RPP — the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $100,222 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $99,778.

What the Numbers Mean for Waterbury

Waterbury ranks #93 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 99.8, Waterbury-Shelton, CT is 0.2% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Waterbury's most and least expensive categories — services at 147.6 versus rents at 89.1 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.

Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $100,222 inside Waterbury, while a household needs roughly $99,778 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 89.1 — 10.9% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.

Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Waterbury's overall index has fallen by 11.0 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 97.3 and services at 147.6, meaning everyday spending in Waterbury is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.

Waterbury vs every U.S. metro

Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution

100 Top 24% higher than 76% of 387 US metros

80–84: 3 US metros (1%). Below this entry. 84–88: 48 US metros (12%). Below this entry. 88–92: 94 US metros (24%). Below this entry. 92–96: 97 US metros (25%). Below this entry. 96–100: 55 US metros (14%). This entry sits in this band. 100–104: 54 US metros (14%). Above this entry. 104–108: 17 US metros (4%). Above this entry. 108–112: 14 US metros (4%). Above this entry. 112–116: 5 US metros (1%). Above this entry. 116–120: 0 US metros (0%). Above this entry. This metro 80 120 every US metro, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024

Waterbury cost breakdown

BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average

RPP

What this shows Waterbury's gap from the national average is led by services at 147.6. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities As of 2024

Goods vs. housing — where Waterbury's cost comes from

Metros near Waterbury's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 99.7, rents 105.5). Waterbury is cheaper than its peers on both housing and goods. These metros sit near Waterbury's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 99.7, rents 105.5). Waterbury is cheaper than its peers on both housing and goods. These metros sit near Waterbury's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures. 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 7 entities by Goods RPP (tradable items) → (X) and Rents RPP (housing) → (Y), with a crosshair dividing the plot into four quadrants. Pricier on bothMore housing-ledMore goods-ledCheaper on both 949698100102104106 8090100110120 Goods RPP (tradable items) → Rents RPP (housing) → WaterburyVisaliaAllentownAlbanyPalm BayAtlantaJacksonville
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 99.7, rents 105.5). Waterbury is cheaper than its peers on both housing and goods. These metros sit near Waterbury's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Price Index Summary

Overall

99.8

-0.2 below avg

Goods

97.3

-2.7 below avg

Services

147.6

+47.6 above avg

Rents

89.1

-10.9 below avg

Salary Equivalent

A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:

$99,778

in Waterbury-Shelton, CT purchasing power

$50,000 nationally
$49,889
$75,000 nationally
$74,834
$125,000 nationally
$124,723
$150,000 nationally
$149,667
$200,000 nationally
$199,556

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.

RPP History (2008-2024)

The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 11.0 points over this period.

Year Overall
2008 110.8
2009 111.0
2010 105.9
2011 108.4
2012 106.9
2013 107.9
2014 105.8
2015 106.1
2016 106.5
2017 106.4
2018 102.1
2019 101.3
2020 103.4
2021 99.6
2022 102.5
2023 101.0
2024 99.8

Metros with Similar Cost of Living

These metros have an overall RPP closest to Waterbury-Shelton, CT's index of 99.8.

Visalia, CA 99.8 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 100.0 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 99.6 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 100.0 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 100.1 Jacksonville, FL 99.5

Other CT Metros

Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury 106.9 New Haven 104.6 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford 102.7 Norwich-New London-Willimantic 100.4

View all CT metros →

Compare to Other Metros

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington vs Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands Custom Compare →

Cost of Living Guides

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Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough

View all guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Waterbury-Shelton, CT? ▼
Waterbury-Shelton, CT has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 99.8, meaning it is 0.2% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 97.3, services at 147.6, and rents at 89.1. It ranks #93 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Waterbury-Shelton, CT to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $99,778 in Waterbury-Shelton, CT. Conversely, $100K earned in Waterbury-Shelton, CT has the purchasing power of $100,222 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Waterbury-Shelton, CT? ▼
Rents in Waterbury-Shelton, CT are indexed at 89.1, which is 10.9% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Waterbury-Shelton, CT getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Waterbury-Shelton, CT's overall cost index changed by -11.0 points (from 110.8 to 99.8). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Waterbury-Shelton, CT? ▼
The most expensive category in Waterbury-Shelton, CT is services at 147.6, which is 47.6% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 89.1, 10.9% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Waterbury-Shelton, CT? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Visalia, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Albany-Schenectady-Troy. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Waterbury-Shelton, CT's 99.8.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.

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Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Federal data behind these figures
  • BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
  • U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr