Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Boise City leads 17 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,402 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
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.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Households earn $21,798 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than New Bedford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($291,300 vs $401,800)
Rent averages $197/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,223)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boise City by $21,798/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Boise City
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Boise City
Median Income
$21,798
$76,402 vs $54,604/yr
Boise City
Violent Crime
17% lower
293.8 vs 353.2 per 100k
Boise City
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$111k less
$291,300 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Boise City is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 17 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 17 and New Bedford wins 6. 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 Boise City to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $291,300 median home), income ($76,402 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and New Bedford, MA are about 2,278 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.