Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Buffalo leads 13 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ 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.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($132,100 vs $291,300)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $84/mo less ($942 vs $1,026)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Bedford by $8,420/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
New Bedford, MA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Buffalo
Households earn $8,420 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 32°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$159k less
$132,100 vs $291,300
New Bedford
Median Income
$8,420
$54,604 vs $46,184/yr
New Bedford
Violent Crime
50% lower
353.2 vs 706.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $54,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 11.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 32.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buffalo leads 13 of 23 categories. Buffalo 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 Buffalo to New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $291,300 median home), income ($46,184 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and New Bedford, MA are about 414 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.