Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Birmingham leads 13 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
10
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.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($123,000 vs $291,300)
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 39°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Bedford by $12,140/yr
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Bedford, MA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Birmingham
Households earn $12,140 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$168k less
$123,000 vs $291,300
Birmingham
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Median Income
$12,140
$54,604 vs $42,464/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
72% lower
353.2 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $54,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Birmingham leads 13 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 13 and New Bedford wins 10. 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 Birmingham to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $291,300 median home), income ($42,464 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and New Bedford, MA are about 1,032 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.