Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 New Bedford leads 14 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,604
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.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $19,412 more per year on average
More college-educated — 20.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
New Bedford, MA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Brockton
Rent averages $420/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,446)
Homes cost $73k less ($291,300 vs $364,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (7.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $19,412/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$19,412
$74,016 vs $54,604/yr
New Bedford
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Violent Crime
41% lower
353.2 vs 599.2 per 100k
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$73k less
$291,300 vs $364,700
New Bedford
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 32.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Bedford leads 14 of 23 categories. Brockton wins 9 and New Bedford wins 14. 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 Brockton to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $291,300 median home), income ($74,016 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and New Bedford, MA are about 29 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.