Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaumont, TX
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Beaumont leads 14 of 23 categories
Beaumont
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,745
Violent Crime Index
299⚠ High
Population
114,573 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaumont, TX
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($150,400 vs $291,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
More college-educated — 25.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1137.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3302.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Bedford, MA
Pros
69% less violent crime than Beaumont
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Beaumont
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaumont
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Beaumont
Median Home Value
$141k less
$150,400 vs $291,300
Beaumont
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.2% unemployment
Beaumont
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Median Income
$859
$54,604 vs $53,745/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
69% lower
353.2 vs 1137.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaumont, TX | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,400 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $992 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,745 | $54,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 4.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 242⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 299⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.9:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.8% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BEAUMONT ISD | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.1" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,573 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaumont's cost of living index is 90.2 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Beaumont is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaumont leads 14 of 23 categories. Beaumont 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 Beaumont to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,400 vs $291,300 median home), income ($53,745 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaumont, TX and New Bedford, MA are about 1,518 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.