Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
100,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $51,410 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than New Bedford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Homes cost $262k less ($291,300 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $680/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,706)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $51,410/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$51,410
$106,014 vs $54,604/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
19% lower
285.6 vs 353.2 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Arvada
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$262k less
$291,300 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 32.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 14 and New Bedford wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arvada to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $291,300 median home), income ($106,014 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and New Bedford, MA are about 1,784 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.